Category Archives: Uncategorized

On C.C. Sabathia and Addiction

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I know a man who struggled with addiction. It nearly cost him everything. To this day, he admits that facing it isn’t an easy thing to do, and neither is staying sober. It is a fight, one that may never truly end.

And that’s what makes what C.C. Sabathia did so notable and, in a way, noble.

As you probably heard already, Sabathia has checked himself into a alcohol rehabilitation center. He will miss the postseason, although that certainly isn’t what is important right now.

What is important is that Sabathia has recognized he needs help, and is apparently serious enough about facing his demons that he is doing it despite the fact that the playoffs are about to begin.

Hopefully that is a good sign, a sign that Sabathia is fully committed, and that he will win this fight. In one way, however, it could be said he already has done some good: his actions have brought this issue into the public eye, raising awareness, and perhaps inspiring others to seek help.

And that is a more important thing than any game.

Get well, C.C.

The Best Unofficial Baseball Shirts for Postseason Teams!

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Last month’s look at unofficial and unlicensed baseball shirts was a big hit, even being picked up by SI.com’s Extra Mustard. So, since I’m never the type to quit while I’m ahead, I’ll do another. So, with the postseason starting tomorrow, here are the best unofficial and/or unlicensed (or, in extreme circumstances, just plain cool) t-shirts for those teams. Click the links to be brought to the stores that are selling them.

(Note: Some of these are not technically unofficial, but are rather licensed by individual players or the Hall of Fame. You’ll see, for example, a HOF Reggie Jackson shirt that conspicuously doesn’t have any Yankees logos on it.)

(GO BELOW THE JUMP FOR MORE)

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MVP of Yesterday (Sept. 23, 2015): Neil Walker

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Neil Walker had six plate appearances last night. He had four hits, a HR, six RBIs, and a walk. He’s the MVP of Yesterday.

Standings, as always, after the jump:

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Breaking OOTP, Episode 1: PITCHERS vs. HITTERS

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When my previous computer died, I lost the International Baseball Competition. I will try again next year. I might still have the original starting files to go on, and if I can find them, I will put them up so that you can do the IBC.

However, from the ashes of the 2015 IBC, there has risen…

BREAKING OOTP!

Yes, Out of the Park Baseball tasks me, so I must have it! I will force it to do things that it was not made to do, things that mankind was not meant to see simulated. Some will answer questions, some will settle scores, and some will push Out Of The Park Baseball to it’s very limits, to see if I can literally cause the game engine to beg for mercy.

(And, yes, this is basically Breaking Madden in OOTP form, you have a problem with that? Oh, and CLICK PICTURES TO MAKE THEM BIGGER.)

TODAY:

PITCHERS

vs.

HITTERS

Yes, for all time, the pitchers have waged war with those at the plate. But now, it is time to finally settle it once and for all, as a team made up entirely of pitchers will play a team made entirely up of hitters. And at the end of the day, ONLY ONE SHALL BE LEFT STANDING…. AFTER THE JUMP:

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For #NationalVideoGamesDay: How many sports has Mario played?

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The question of who the greatest video game athlete of all time is a hard one. Many go with Bo Jackson, with good reason. Still others (such as the Cespedes BBQ duo) wisely go with the Secret Weapon himself, Pablo Sanchez. But for sheer variety, none can defeat Mario, the most versatile athlete in video game history, who, by coincidence, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the release of Super Mario Brothers today!

And today, to honor National Video Games Day, which I just found out exists like ten minutes ago on Twitter, I’m running down every single sport Mario has ever played.

(Go below the jump for more)

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Where You Can Buy “Bizarre Baseball Culture”

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Alas, this is not proof that I have written a book about “Bizarre Baseball Culture”, as great as that would have been. Instead, it’s a rundown of places where things I have covered from Bizarre Baseball Culture can be purchased. Also, note that in many cases, particularly with the comics, it probably is cheaper to just look for the individual issue on eBay or elsewhere. In cases where the piece of Bizarre Baseball Culture is in the Public Domain or is available legally for free, I have not included it:

“The Double Trouble Header” can be found on Amazon on the DVD “Pokemon All-Stars: Chikorita”.

Mr. Go is available, with English subtitles, from YESASIA or from Amazon.

“Pinky At The Bat” is available on Pinky and the Brain Vol. 3, available at Amazon.

Action Comics #50 can be found in Superman Chronicles Volume 9, available from Things From Another World and Amazon.

Brittle Innings is available from Amazon.

The Franklin Richards baseball story can be found in the Franklin Richards: Son Of A Genius Ultimate Collection at Things From Another World and Amazon.

Captain America’s “Death Loads The Bases” story is collected in Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Captain America Volume 2, available from Things From Another World and Amazon.

Peter Parker: Spider-Man #33, about Spider-Man and the Mets, can found in
Peter Parker, Spider-Man Vol. II: One Small Break, available from Amazon.

It’s Tokyo, Charlie Brown! can be found at Things From Another World and Amazon.

“The Twisker Pitcher” can be found in Popeye The Sailor: 1933-1938: The Complete First Volume, available from Amazon.

Fallout 4 can also be purchased from Amazon (click the link).

I will be updating this post in the future and will also be including it in all future Bizarre Baseball Culture run-downs.

The Best Unlicensed/Unofficial Baseball Posters on the Internet

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First, there were the T-Shirts. And one day, I will return to those. But today, we are going to look at fan-designed unofficial and unlicensed posters. What type of posters? Well, go below the jump to see:

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MVP of Yesterday (September 9, 2015): Bryce Harper

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Bryce Harper had two home runs yesterday, and went 3-4. But, of course, that wasn’t enough to salvage the Nationals’ series, as they lost again to the Mets.

Standings, as always, after the jump:

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WBC News for September 8, 2015: Managers/Coaches for Teams Nicaragua, Panama, New Zealand, and Israel, possible reveal of when qualifiers will be?

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Yes, it’s been awhile, but it’s time to start up the ole’ World Baseball Classic news machine, as over the past few weeks we got some of the first news about the 2017 WBC and it’s 2016 qualifiers!

First off, Brewers bench coach Jerry Narron will have some sort of coaching position on the Israeli national team. Narron’s daughter lives in Israel and all of this apparently was set into motion when she off-handedly remarked about her father’s baseball pedigree to the Israeli Baseball Association’s president. The manager for Team Israel, meanwhile, will be Jerry Weinstein, a coach in the Rockies system. Shawn Green will also be a member of the coaching staff. It’s mentioned that the heads of Israeli baseball hope that it’s qualifying round will take place during the off-season- in 2012 (for the 2013 Classic), it took place during the season.

Meanwhile, former Giant Marvin Benard, now a coach in the Padres organization, has been named manager for Team Nicaragua for the qualifying round for the 2017 Classic. According to the article (or at least my Middle School Spanish and a google translation), the qualifying tournament that Nicaragua will be in will be held in Panama in March of 2016, in the same bracket as Panama, Brazil and Colombia (in other words, the same four that were in this bracket in the previous WBC qualifiers). I haven’t seen any confirmation either way whether this is true, but at the very least the teams in the group sound about right.

New Zealand has also named it’s coaching staff.  Chris Woodward, a coach for the Mariners, will be the skipper in the qualifier. Ron Roenicke will be a bench coach, Josh Bard will be a hitting coach, NPB veteran Naoyuki Shimizu will be the pitching coach, and Chris Prieto and D.J. Carrasco will also help coach.

Finally, Carlos Lee will be managing Team Panama.

So, that’s your first news update on the 2017 World Baseball Classic. If you know any news that I don’t have here, let me know by e-mailing me at djgwriter@yahoo.com or on Twitter (@DanJGlickman).

Until next time!

MVPs of the Labor Day Weekend (September 4-7)

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September 4: Chris Davis

September 5: Bartolo Colon

September 6: Jose Bautista

September 7: Anthony DeSclafani

Standings, as always, after the jump:

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