Thank You and Goodnight

By: Guido

It's all over! Just as I predicted. Manny showed up for game 3 and the Dodgers got the sweep. Yet, the Cards fans are still making me sick. Here are some quotes from various message boards.

"First of all, congrats to the Dodgers. They absolutely deserved to win. Wish it had been a tighter series, but, as with the 2004 sweep by the Red Sox, this one seemed not in the cards. Well, it's the journey that matters, and the Cardinals treated us fans to one terrific ride for about 5 and a half months."

"This doesn't hurt at all. The best team won. So, I look forward to spring training and a new season in 2010. Great job Dodgers. Good luck with the Phillies or Rockies. I have a feeling the Yanks are going to win it all though. Go Cards! Thanks for a good season."

"Cubs fans are going to be bashing us? C'mon, give me a f'ing break! The Cubs are still a century behind the Cards."

Give YOU a break? Why the fuck should anyone give any Cardinals fan or player a break? Why? Because you can't take the shit that you are usually handing out? Is it too much for you for Matt Holliday to be the billy goat and Steve Bartman? Are 2006 chants more than you can handle? Give ME a fucking break!

The standing ovation for Matt Holliday? Was that from the heart? Fuck no it wasn't! You guys are just kissing his ass so maybe he would still consider signing with the Cards in the off season. If I were Holliday, I'd get the hell out of St. Louis. No need playing for a fan base that will always remember your folly that cost them a game in the playoffs. Give me a break, my ass!

Did the better team win? Yes. But why do Cards fans feel it necessary to point that out, you ask? Because it makes them look humble. Baseball's Greatest Fans(TM)? Shit. They are just masking their embarrassment. They don't like being associated with the word "choke". Well, get used to it.

The Cards only looked good this season by comparison. Comparison with the Cubs and Brewers, the two favorites to compete for the NL Central. Thanks to both teams underachieving, the Cards were able to take advantage with their triple-a plus Pujols roster and win the central. Easily. Hell, they were already in first place when they acquired DeRosa and Holliday. And with the exception of August, the Cards were 71-65. They lucked into it. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But they should take it for what it is, not what they want it to be. You can't say that it was a dominating season for the Cards. It was an average season. The Brewers didn't show up all year and by the time the Cubs had everyone healthy, it was too late.

So all in all, the Cards played three extra games this year. or should I say, dressed for three games. They didn't really play. You can't tell me that it doesn't hurt. How does it not hurt to see your team play like shit in the playoffs? I can say for myself that it doesn't surprise me when the Cubs do it but for when the Cards fans climb out of there spider holes in mid-July and start parading around, singing "We are the Champions"... I've been there. 2003. 2004. 2007. 2008. It hurts. Doesn't matter how it ends. So give me a break!

Get with the program! Other than going a century without a WS title, there is one thing the Cubs have on the Cardinals. Back-to-back World Series Championships. That's right St. Louis. Been there. Done that. the Cubs have successfully defended a championship season. Time to start playing catch-up.

I think this fellow said it best.

"Cardinal fans really make me laugh. When they lose, it's 'the better team won,' or 'We didn't deserve to win.' Give me a break. However, when the Cubs get beat, it's 'Choker' or '1908.' Bunch of hypocrite Cards fans. I live in an area which is half Cubs and half Cards and boy did the excuses come out when they got beat. And yeah, the Cubs haven't won since 1908, but it doesn't make me love my team any less."

Guido's MLB Awards

AL MVP: Joe Mauer
NL MVP: Albert Pujols
AL CY Young: Zack Greinke
NL CY Young: Tim Lincecum
AL Reliever: Andrew Bailey
NL Reliever: Jonathan Broxton
AL Manager: Ron Gardenhire
NL Manager: Jim Tracy
AL ROY: Rick Porcello
NL ROY: Chris Coghlan
AL Busts: Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, Josh Hamilton, Grady Sizemore, Francisco Liriano, Joba Chamberlain
NL Busts: Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Milton Bradley, Jason Motte, K-Rod, Brandon Webb, Jose Reyes, Alfonso Soriano
AL Surprise!: Texas Rangers, Andrew Bailey, Rajai Davis
NL Surprise!: Colorado Rockies, Pablo Sandoval, Manny's suspension
AL 2010 Breakout: Billy Butler, Brett Anderson
NL 2010 Breakout: Joey Votto, Tommy Hanson
AL 2010 Comeback Player: Milton Bradley
NL 2010 Comeback Player: Jose Reyes

A Text Conversation (part 2)

By: Guido

The following conversation took place throughout the day and during game 2 of the Cards/Dodgers NLDS.

Guido (11:47)am: Carpenter and Wainwright havent lost back to back starts. Hmm sounds familiar...2003 Wood and Prior anyone?
Josh (2:42)pm: I would be stunned if STL lost 2nite. Stunned. I think they come out 2nite and take care of business and then take it back home and Carpenter will redeem himself and end it in game 4.
Josh (5:27): Gotta love Holliday lol.
Josh (6:22): Colby Rasmus will be an All-Star
Josh (6:28): I will say that the Dodgers have a bright future. I have thought that Billingsly was gonna be a stud from day 1 and Kershaw has some sick shit but is 2 inconsistent still. it will be fun seeing Lincecum-Cain vs Billingsly-Kershaw 4 the next few yrs.
Josh (6:36): Dude when Wainwright is on he is fucking sick. That curve is nasty. I think that after 2nite he is gonna seal up the CY Young.
Josh (6:43): U working? lol
Guido (6:44): Yep.
Josh (6:46): That sux man. I figured. Tied 1-1 going bot 6. I will update you every inning homie.
*He then just gives me updates on what the Cards are doing. Never mentions the Dodgers except to say that Kershaw was lifted.
Josh (7:22): 2-1 top 8. Pujols, Holliday and Ludwick coming up. Lets go big bats! lol
Guido (7:25): Dont get too excited. Ive seen it all crumble away.
Josh (7:26): I know u have homie. i know u have. lol
Josh (7:29): 2-1 bot 8
Josh (8:20): Fucking cocksucker Holliday dropped the final out and then Franklin blew the game. Just terrible. they had no right blowing that game. That was a pathetic loss.
Josh (8:24): All that idiot Holliday had to do was catch a damn fly ball and we win. How he dropped it I will never know.
Guido (8:24): Holliday! Celebrate!
Josh (8:27): Dude that was terrible. from 2 out with none on 2 losing on a botched flyout, a walk, and a couple of bloops. That is awful. Wainwright deserved better than that. Fucking terrible. Dominated them the whole game.
Josh (8:41): Dude that 1 hurt lol. that was a pretty horrible loss. At least my team has won a world series in my lifetime tho. It was no Bartman, but that was still pretty fucking bad. I have never seen a team within 1 out completely rip a loss out of a win. Oh well. We can still win the series. Just gotta take care of business at home and hope that Wainwright pitches that good again in game 5. We basically have to pull off a 2001 Yankees. We could do it. Could just as easily be 2-0 rite now. If Piniero wins game 3, Carpenter and Wainwright will take care of the rest. At least I hope lol.


Oh Cardinals fans...always in denial...

A Text Conversation

By: Guido

The following conversation took place during game 1 of the Cards/Dodgers NLDS. Josh is a Cards fan.

Josh (10:05): Oh baby please let Jeff Weaver come in lol
Josh (10:16): Goddamn he got lucky
Josh (10:28): Dude TBS seriously needs 2 fix their cameras and audio because this shit is ridiculus. Leave the playoffs to FOX lol
Josh (10:31): Thank u in advance Jeff Weaver lol
Guido (11:18): oh mcclellen
Josh (11:22): Fucking worthless bastard. And u wonder why I hate Reyes and McClellan. They r both fucking terrible and LaRussa just cant help but play them. Like they r paying him. Use fucking Smoltz or Hawksworth. McClellan shouldnt pitch at all in the playoffs. We have Smoltz and u would rather run that peice of shit out there? Terrible. Reyes is our only other lefty besides Miller so thats why he gets in. McClellan is awful.
Josh (11:27): how fucking hard is it 2 throw a strike? Seriously that guy is horrible. He is in Mike Timlin territory 4 me. When that guy used to come in I would cringe. Same thing happens when this fag comes in. Seriously I have no idea why LaRussa thinks this worthless bastard is good.
Josh (11:29): Sure throw fucking Hawksworth in there now. Stupid Bastard.
Josh (11:31): That Cards bullpen ERA is based on Miller and Franklin. Thats about it.
Josh (11:34): This game is just frustrating. Carpenter had his C stuff and we just played terrible. Then LaRussa mis-managed the bullpen like always. Hawksworth will shut them down. That fag McClellan cant even throw strikes.
Josh (11:38): We have a Troy Glaus sighting lol
Josh (11:42): Should have left Rasmus in. Pinch hit Glaus 4 the pitcher instead of Lugo. That was dumb.
Josh (11:51): This isnt over yet. Broxton blew a save vs us this year. its never over til its over homie.
Guido (11:52): No. Its over. And its gonna be hard on the Cards bullpen the rest of the series. I cant believe Carpenter came out as flat as he did but I like it.
Josh (11:56): ya he was off. didnt expect that. He didnt have his control. All they have 2 do is avoid those middle inning fucks Reyes and McClellan. They can use Hawksworth and Motte and then Miller and Franklin. they really just need their guys 2 go 7 inn. Its all good. Wainwright will win tomorrow and then they will close them out in 4 in St. louis. I am not worried at all homie.
Josh (11:58): I knew Hawksworth would get out of that inning.
Josh (12:06): They didnt call that 4 Inge last nite lol. If Ryan gets on Pujols will tie it with a 3 run HR. Broxton will blow it.
Josh (12:22): this is ridiculous: How the fuck did Boggs make the roster? LaRussa must think thats Wade Boggs. He fucking sucks. No way he deserves 2 be on the playoff roster. What the fuck. Where are Smoltz and Lohse. If they dont use them in situations like this, when the fuck will they? Seriously they wont start them in any game so when are they gonna pitch them? Fucking Wellemeyer is better than them.

After that I went to bed satisfied. Nothing better than a Cardinals defeat that leaves their fans questioning the team. i love it.

UFC 104 Preview

By: Guido

I'm excited to see Machida defend his title. Not to brag or anything but I have been harping on Machida's talents since UFC 79. Machida finally got that chance at UFC 98 when he Ko'd Rashad Evans for the LHW Title. I don't think Rua is the most deserving of opponents, but considering that Evans and Rampage Jackson are tied up with Ultimate Fighter (and Rampage "quitting" mma), I can't complain. Not to take anything away from Rua, who will still put on a good show.

Main card

Light Heavyweight Championship bout: Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua
Heavyweight bout: Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell
Lightweight bout: Gleison Tibau vs. Josh Neer
Lightweight bout: Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher
Welterweight bout: Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

I'll take Machida over Rua, Velasquez over Rothwell, Neer over Tibau, Fisher over Stevenson in the Fight of the Night, and Yoshida over Johnson in a shocker.

Preliminary card

Heavyweight bout: Antoni Hardonk vs. Patrick Barry
Middleweight bout: Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen
Middleweight bout: Jorge Rivera vs. Rob Kimmons
Light Heavyweight bout: Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer
Light Heavyweight bout: Kyle Kingsbury vs. Razak Al-Hassan
Heavyweight bout: Stefan Struve vs. Chase Gormley

Hardonk over Barry, Okami over Sonnen, Rivera over Kimmons, Schafer over Bader, Al-Hassan over Kingsbury, and Struve over Gormley.

UFC 105 Free on Spike

By: Guido

Now, I usually won't mention anything about UFC that is more than a couple weeks away from happening, considering most fight cards change from injuries and other bs but wow! Randy Couture vs Brandon Vera at UFC 105 for free on Spike. Now, the only reason this is a free UFC is because it will be live on tape delay from England. So by the time we get to see the fights, they are already finished. This fight is at light-heavyweight and is in some ways an entry level match for Couture to size himself up against the best at LHW. The UFC would eventually like to see Couture fight for the LHW belt.

The LHW title is on the line October 24th when Lyoto Machinda defends the championship against Shogun Rua. Right now, Machida stands as a heavy favorite. I don't agree with Rua getting the first shot at Machida but oh well.

Nov. 14th free 105 card features:

Light Heavyweight bout: Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera
Welterweight bout: Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy*
Middleweight bout: Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang
Welterweight bout: James Wilks vs. Matt Brown
Lightweight bout: Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley

*note: Winner becomes #1 contender for GSP's welterweight title.

2009 MLB Playoff Preview

By: Guido

Colorado Rockies vs Philadelphia Phillies
I believe in Rocktober, therefore I am taking the Rockies in 5 games. Philly finished the season just one game better than the Rockies and both teams have playoff experience with the Rockies losing in the world series in 2007 and the Phillies winning it all last season. The wild card for this series is Brad Lidge. Lidge could blow this series for the Phillies if he plays.

St. Louis Cardinals vs LA Dodgers
My pure hatred for the Cardinals won't allow me to pick them to win this series, even if I believed they could. The Cardinals have a better 1-2 combo with Carpenter and Wainwright but the Dodgers have the bigger bats. Plus, we saw last year how the stud Cubs pitchers fared against the Dodgers free swingers. I'm taking LA in 4. 3 if Manny shows up.

Boston Red Sox vs Anaheim Angels
Angels in 5. I'm tired of Boston. Every game in this series will probably end with one team winning by 6 or more runs. It will not be very competitive. I just have this feeling.

Minnesota Twins vs NY Yankees
Twins in 5. I'm not too high on either teams pitching. I'd like to think that the Twins are motivated and will try to close out the Metrodome with a world series. I believe the Twins can grind out this series. However, I can see the fucking Yankees sweeping.

World Series prediction: Twins over Rockies in 7
WS MVP: Joe Mauer
ALCS MVP: Michael Cuddyer
NLCS MVP: Ubaldo Jimenez