Comments on: Not the Best News http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/ Your Daily Source for Half-Baked Crap Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:21:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: mini_tb http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-157564 mini_tb Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:40:46 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-157564 Fare thee well, ubelmann!! Thanks for giving me something to do whilst at work! Fare thee well, ubelmann!! Thanks for giving me something to do whilst at work!

]]> By: SBG http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-157069 SBG Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:59:09 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-157069 I think he was the one that spontaneously combusted. I think he was the one that spontaneously combusted.

]]> By: brianS http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-157067 brianS Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:52:45 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-157067 would this make StatFreak one of the (many) drummers that have passed through the WGOM lineup? would this make StatFreak one of the (many) drummers that have passed through the WGOM lineup?

]]> By: AMR http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-157054 AMR Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:35:16 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-157054 Thanks for your writing so far, Ubes. Good luck on your adventures. Thanks for your writing so far, Ubes. Good luck on your adventures.

]]> By: Andrew http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-157048 Andrew Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:23:49 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-157048 Yeah, The Baby Jesus is Joe Mauer. Not to be confused with the Vikes' Purple Jesus in Adrian Peterson. Yeah, The Baby Jesus is Joe Mauer. Not to be confused with the Vikes' Purple Jesus in Adrian Peterson.

]]> By: meat http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-157027 meat Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:28:07 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-157027 Ubes- Thanks for the work you put into this site, you made math fun for me to read and think about again- which is strange because math usually makes my head fuzzy, and for the record I prefer beer to math for a good buzz. As a lot of other people have said, I'll miss your insight and wit around here. Thanks again. Ubes- Thanks for the work you put into this site, you made math fun for me to read and think about again- which is strange because math usually makes my head fuzzy, and for the record I prefer beer to math for a good buzz. As a lot of other people have said, I'll miss your insight and wit around here. Thanks again.

]]> By: CarterHayes http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156978 CarterHayes Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:55:41 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156978 That's when the <em>SI</em> issue containing Deford's hatchet-job on Kirby hit newsstands. That's when the SI issue containing Deford's hatchet-job on Kirby hit newsstands.

]]> By: punmanbowler http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156976 punmanbowler Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:26:38 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156976 So what happened on March 17, 2003? So what happened on March 17, 2003?

]]> By: punmanbowler http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156975 punmanbowler Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:20:41 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156975 Sorry, not hip with the lingo, was this Mauer? Sorry, not hip with the lingo, was this Mauer?

]]> By: CarterHayes http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156958 CarterHayes Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:20:10 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156958 It was a great one all right. My dad and I drove up from Trempealeau to see the game. I don't remember how we got tickets (maybe he talked one of his brothers into driving over to the Dome, or maybe we bought them from scalpers), but I remember the standing ovations and the fans practically pleading for one last blast into the upper deck. Herbie really wanted it, and the rest of the team gave him as many chances to come to the plate as possible. Retrosheet lists him as getting 5 AB plus 1 HBP from the sixth spot in the order. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that night was the last time I saw Bruno play, too. It was a great one all right. My dad and I drove up from Trempealeau to see the game. I don't remember how we got tickets (maybe he talked one of his brothers into driving over to the Dome, or maybe we bought them from scalpers), but I remember the standing ovations and the fans practically pleading for one last blast into the upper deck. Herbie really wanted it, and the rest of the team gave him as many chances to come to the plate as possible. Retrosheet lists him as getting 5 AB plus 1 HBP from the sixth spot in the order.

Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that night was the last time I saw Bruno play, too.

]]> By: SBG http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156951 SBG Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:50:49 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156951 That was a sad and glorious day for me. The city of SBGville was spraying for mosquitoes that night, so my Dad needed to get his pickup out of town to save the paint job. So, we drove around listening to Hrbek's last game and he had like three chances to end his career with a grand slam home run, but couldn't do it. Puck had a granny and a three run shot in that game. That was a sad and glorious day for me. The city of SBGville was spraying for mosquitoes that night, so my Dad needed to get his pickup out of town to save the paint job. So, we drove around listening to Hrbek's last game and he had like three chances to end his career with a grand slam home run, but couldn't do it. Puck had a granny and a three run shot in that game.

]]> By: CarterHayes http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156942 CarterHayes Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:36:59 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156942 The strike was certainly bad, but when baseball eventually came back, it was without the best pro wrestler ever to don T-Rex-sized spikes. The strike was certainly bad, but when baseball eventually came back, it was without the best pro wrestler ever to don T-Rex-sized spikes.

]]> By: CarterHayes http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156938 CarterHayes Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:29:01 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156938 Yeah, those couple of months in the '97 off-season are when Carl was threatening to sell to Don Beaver so the Twins could move to the Piedmont Triad and become the Triplets or something. I'm a bit surprised the events of the 19th didn't get any mention at the time on what's now the WGOM, but SBG might have been actually studying for the bar and too busy to write about it (then again, probably not, judging by what Stick's said about those days). Side note to SBG: While I was looking back in the archives I came across your 21 July 2004 entry, which brought back some personal memories from that time. This time the same could be said about Afghanistan. The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh? Yeah, those couple of months in the '97 off-season are when Carl was threatening to sell to Don Beaver so the Twins could move to the Piedmont Triad and become the Triplets or something.

I'm a bit surprised the events of the 19th didn't get any mention at the time on what's now the WGOM, but SBG might have been actually studying for the bar and too busy to write about it (then again, probably not, judging by what Stick's said about those days).

Side note to SBG:

While I was looking back in the archives I came across your 21 July 2004 entry, which brought back some personal memories from that time. This time the same could be said about Afghanistan. The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh?

]]> By: Andrew http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156931 Andrew Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:12:11 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156931 19 July 2004 - Baby Jesus out for rest of year following early season knee injury 19 July 2004 - Baby Jesus out for rest of year following early season knee injury

]]> By: SBG http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156926 SBG Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:04:05 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156926 The 1997 off-season could be the Twins to N. Carolina BS. I never bought that for a second. July 19, 2004 -- the start of what's now the WGOM???? That was actually July 17, 2004. April 1, 2007 -- death of Herb Carneal The 1997 off-season could be the Twins to N. Carolina BS. I never bought that for a second.
July 19, 2004 -- the start of what's now the WGOM???? That was actually July 17, 2004.
April 1, 2007 -- death of Herb Carneal

]]> By: punmanbowler http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156916 punmanbowler Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:54:53 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156916 Who's ubelmann again? j/k. Ubelmann, we'll miss you, but you are certainly welcome here anytime. Now I'm going to play "guess what happened on the dates Carter Hayes mentioned": (without wiki or google assistance) - 10 August 1994 - Strike - 28 September 1995 (and subsequently, 28 March 1996) - Puckett hit in eye (followed by retirement announcement) - 18 September - 30 November 1997 - no clue - essentially the entire 2001 off-season - contraction threat (freakin' Bud Selig) - 13 October 2002 - Angels clinch ALCS - 17 March 2003 - no clue - 19 July 2004 - not sure - 09 October 2004 - Twins eliminated by Yankees in DS - 27 March 2005 - not sure - 06 March 2006 - Puckett's death - 13 September 2006 - Liriano out? - 01 April 2007 - don't know Who's ubelmann again?

j/k. Ubelmann, we'll miss you, but you are certainly welcome here anytime.

Now I'm going to play "guess what happened on the dates Carter Hayes mentioned": (without wiki or google assistance)

- 10 August 1994 - Strike
- 28 September 1995 (and subsequently, 28 March 1996) - Puckett hit in eye (followed by retirement announcement)
- 18 September - 30 November 1997 - no clue
- essentially the entire 2001 off-season - contraction threat (freakin' Bud Selig)
- 13 October 2002 - Angels clinch ALCS
- 17 March 2003 - no clue
- 19 July 2004 - not sure
- 09 October 2004 - Twins eliminated by Yankees in DS
- 27 March 2005 - not sure
- 06 March 2006 - Puckett's death
- 13 September 2006 - Liriano out?
- 01 April 2007 - don't know

]]> By: E-6 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156798 E-6 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:46:30 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156798 Ubes is a five-tool guy. They don't come along very often. Ubes is a five-tool guy. They don't come along very often.

]]> By: bodly http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156792 bodly Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:42:04 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156792 This makes me sad. But ubelmann needs to have his priorities in order. I'm sure that every article he wrote was the product of many hours of analysis. I have missed his insight lately and WGOM won't be the same without him. Hopefully he will be back when he is able and hopefully he won't be a stranger. This makes me sad. But ubelmann needs to have his priorities in order. I'm sure that every article he wrote was the product of many hours of analysis.

I have missed his insight lately and WGOM won't be the same without him. Hopefully he will be back when he is able and hopefully he won't be a stranger.

]]> By: Klawitter http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156749 Klawitter Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:55:31 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156749 Does WGOM get any supplemental draft picks for losing a Type A talent? Perhaps there are witty, number-crunching budding writers in high school or college somewhere who can someday rise to Ubel League Posting. Does WGOM get any supplemental draft picks for losing a Type A talent? Perhaps there are witty, number-crunching budding writers in high school or college somewhere who can someday rise to Ubel League Posting.

]]> By: CarterHayes http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156746 CarterHayes Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:48:24 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156746 Some of the darkest days in my years as a baseball fan (not counting 1994-2002 collectively): - 10 August 1994 - 28 September 1995 (and subsequently, 28 March 1996) - 18 September - 30 November 1997 - essentially the entire 2001 off-season - 13 October 2002 - 17 March 2003 - 19 July 2004 - 09 October 2004 - 27 March 2005 - 06 March 2006 - 13 September 2006 - 01 April 2007 I'm looking forward to a time where ubes can devote more time to writing about the Twins again, so I'm not ready yet to add 20 August 2008 to that list. But all things considered, having ubes out indefinitely feels like as bad as Kirby, Mauer, or Liriano for the season. Some of the darkest days in my years as a baseball fan (not counting 1994-2002 collectively):

- 10 August 1994
- 28 September 1995 (and subsequently, 28 March 1996)
- 18 September - 30 November 1997
- essentially the entire 2001 off-season
- 13 October 2002
- 17 March 2003
- 19 July 2004
- 09 October 2004
- 27 March 2005
- 06 March 2006
- 13 September 2006
- 01 April 2007

I'm looking forward to a time where ubes can devote more time to writing about the Twins again, so I'm not ready yet to add 20 August 2008 to that list. But all things considered, having ubes out indefinitely feels like as bad as Kirby, Mauer, or Liriano for the season.

]]> By: socaltwinsfan http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156735 socaltwinsfan Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:59:22 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156735 We'll miss your input. As someone who's attempted to step into the blogging foray on occasion, I know it's not easy to produce quality content on a daily basis. I appreciate all your efforts. We'll miss your input. As someone who's attempted to step into the blogging foray on occasion, I know it's not easy to produce quality content on a daily basis. I appreciate all your efforts.

]]> By: brianS http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156731 brianS Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:48:29 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156731 <img src="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:voJ7rKFYTfgojM:http://www.edweek.org/media/2005/04/29/34feature-tinker.jpg" alt="black armband" /> :-( black armband Frown

]]> By: greenmachine http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156730 greenmachine Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:37:35 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156730 I hope we didn't ubelbait you away! Thanks for the excellent analysis. Luckily we now know everything there is to know about this team, and it probably won't change much between now and the end of the season. Let me finish my half-completed BKAC response before I think about writing game log intros ... I hope we didn't ubelbait you away! Thanks for the excellent analysis. Luckily we now know everything there is to know about this team, and it probably won't change much between now and the end of the season.

Let me finish my half-completed BKAC response before I think about writing game log intros ...

]]> By: twayn http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156729 twayn Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:24:08 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156729 Oh, man, no ubelmann? That's like losing access to the Repository. I'm going to be a lot dumber about baseball now. Good luck, ubelmeister. Before you go, could you explain how this xFIP thing works one more time....? Oh, man, no ubelmann? That's like losing access to the Repository. I'm going to be a lot dumber about baseball now.
Good luck, ubelmeister. Before you go, could you explain how this xFIP thing works one more time....?

]]> By: SBG http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156726 SBG Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:14:21 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156726 Thank you very much, enjoy the puppet show. Thank you very much, enjoy the puppet show.

]]> By: E-6 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156724 E-6 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:12:57 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156724 <img src="http://krug.org/unit/spinal/david.jpg" alt="" /> You are witnesses at the new birth of Spinal Tap <em>Mark II.</em> Hope you enjoy our new direction... You are witnesses at the new birth of Spinal Tap Mark II. Hope you enjoy our new direction...

]]> By: bjhess http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156721 bjhess Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:08:46 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156721 Almost 100% lurking for the past year, but let me echo the thoughts of everyone else. I'll miss your writing, Ubes. Hope to see you back soon! Almost 100% lurking for the past year, but let me echo the thoughts of everyone else. I'll miss your writing, Ubes. Hope to see you back soon!

]]> By: Rhubarb_Runner http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156720 Rhubarb_Runner Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:07:40 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156720 Life gets in the way of life, unfortunately. Your output and insight will be missed, but try not to be a stranger! Or a dread pirate, for that matter. Life gets in the way of life, unfortunately. Your output and insight will be missed, but try not to be a stranger! Or a dread pirate, for that matter.

]]> By: SBG http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156719 SBG Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:01:45 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156719 <img src="http://www.mmocrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/lego.jpg" alt="" />

]]> By: E-6 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156716 E-6 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:54:22 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156716 Good stuff. ;) Good stuff. Wink

]]> By: Jeff A http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156715 Jeff A Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:53:46 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156715 ubelmann, I just hope that the stuff going on in your life is good stuff. I hope you will at least drop by and comment once in a while. Best wishes to you. ubelmann, I just hope that the stuff going on in your life is good stuff. I hope you will at least drop by and comment once in a while. Best wishes to you.

]]> By: E-6 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156714 E-6 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:51:32 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156714 Great, we just became Bat Girl*. Without the Legos. :( Okay, not really, but if the WGOM was a baseball team, we just lost our number <strike>1</strike> 2 starter <em>and</em> our clean-up hitter. The defense takes a hit, too. I often took Ubelmann's prodigious output for granted. It's easy to do when someone is churning out quality writing on a near-daily basis. You just come to expect it. More than the numbers, which you crunched with aplomb, what I'll miss the most is your writing. By turns, funny, caustic, whimsical, and dry. Always informed and eloquent. Fewer and fewer people have the skill to write coherently. Fewer still do it well. You do it very <em>very</em> well. Be a shame if you stopped using that gift. Best wishes, sir. Don't be stranger. *New Guy beats me to the Bat Girl reference. Great, we just became Bat Girl*. Without the Legos. Frown Okay, not really, but if the WGOM was a baseball team, we just lost our number 1 2 starter and our clean-up hitter. The defense takes a hit, too.

I often took Ubelmann's prodigious output for granted. It's easy to do when someone is churning out quality writing on a near-daily basis. You just come to expect it. More than the numbers, which you crunched with aplomb, what I'll miss the most is your writing. By turns, funny, caustic, whimsical, and dry. Always informed and eloquent. Fewer and fewer people have the skill to write coherently. Fewer still do it well. You do it very very well. Be a shame if you stopped using that gift.

Best wishes, sir. Don't be stranger.

*New Guy beats me to the Bat Girl reference.

]]> By: New Guy http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156713 New Guy Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:45:28 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156713 Ubelmann isn't dead, he's just going to a farm for a while, in the country, with plenty of room to run around and play in the sunshine, and Bat Girl is there too, and they're frolicking together amongst the wild flowers! But seriously ubes, I suppose after all the knowledge you have dropped on us you have earned a bit of a sabbatical. Fare thee well! Ubelmann isn't dead, he's just going to a farm for a while, in the country, with plenty of room to run around and play in the sunshine, and Bat Girl is there too, and they're frolicking together amongst the wild flowers!

But seriously ubes, I suppose after all the knowledge you have dropped on us you have earned a bit of a sabbatical. Fare thee well!

]]> By: Banjo http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156709 Banjo Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:13:17 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156709 That's a bummer, but completely understandable. It was great while it lasted. His perspective, wit and workload will be missed, but there's a lot of other talent in the room. Good luck Ubes -- hopefully we'll see in you in a game log or two. That's a bummer, but completely understandable. It was great while it lasted. His perspective, wit and workload will be missed, but there's a lot of other talent in the room. Good luck Ubes -- hopefully we'll see in you in a game log or two.

]]> By: thisisbeth http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156704 thisisbeth Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:49:41 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156704 Oh, wow. I'll miss your writing, ubelmann, but I can only imagine how much work each one took. Oh, wow. I'll miss your writing, ubelmann, but I can only imagine how much work each one took.

]]> By: FirstTimeLongTime http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156702 FirstTimeLongTime Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:44:35 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156702 SBG,I would be more than happy to offer my services for one day a week on a provisional basis. Let me know if you are interested. Ubes, your game logs were always excellent in detail and your writing will be missed sorely around these parts, I have been lurking for much longer than I have been a citizen and I have always enjoyed what you've had to say. Best of luck. SBG,I would be more than happy to offer my services for one day a week on a provisional basis. Let me know if you are interested.

Ubes, your game logs were always excellent in detail and your writing will be missed sorely around these parts, I have been lurking for much longer than I have been a citizen and I have always enjoyed what you've had to say. Best of luck.

]]> By: Andrew http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2008/08/20/not-the-best-news/#comment-156701 Andrew Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:43:36 +0000 http://stickandballguy.com/blog/?p=7576#comment-156701 Whoa, that's heavy man. I'll be sad to not see ublemann and his gigantic digital avatar beard around. Whoa, that's heavy man. I'll be sad to not see ublemann and his gigantic digital avatar beard around.

]]>