BuffettNews.com

Wino you know wrote:

Cubbie Bear wrote:Hey, I love the White Sox, especially AJ Konerko and Jermaine Crede, I'll send you my tab

Okay, "White Sox Bear!"
BTW-My wife has a flight out of Moline at 10:00 AM next Wednesday (2nd). Wanna meet at Hooters? First drink will be on me.

I am once again delighted with a BN post!

St. Louis savors memories of Busch
NLCS loss marks the end of one era, the beginning of another

John Schlegel




ST. LOUIS -- Down to the very last out, the stands were still full of Cardinals fans, all of them standing in red-clad unison, flashbulbs popping all around for the entire ninth inning.
It was a moment to remember. It was a moment to say farewell.

It just wasn't the moment anyone there was hoping would be the dying breath of Busch Stadium.

Alas, this wasn't how the script was supposed to be written for Busch Stadium's final game, was it? But October writes its own script, and the Astros wrote their ticket to the World Series on Wednesday night, not the beloved Cardinals.

So it was with a gentle golf clap instead of a thunderous roar that the last out at Busch Stadium was recorded, the ball off Yadier Molina's bat falling gently into the glove of Astros right fielder Jason Lane.

No shouts of joy. No trophy taking a victory lap. And the wrong team dancing on the infield.

The venue that hosted six World Series and eight National League Championship Series in its 40-year history had seen its last game.

Soon, a "Let's Go, Cardinals" chant started echoing through the place, with perhaps new meaning: Let's go next door, Cardinals -- next door to the new Busch Stadium that will open in 2006, its red bricks replacing the concrete, its view of the Gateway Arch replacing the arches that encircle the top of the upper deck, its history yet to be written as it replaces a stadium with so much history now confined to the record books.

"Time marches on," Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt said in the quiet clubhouse afterward. "We've got a wonderful new facility that will open next year. It's still Busch Stadium. It's still the same place, the same location."

That said, even as DeWitt was uttering those words, thousands upon thousands of Cardinals fans just didn't want to let go. They stayed for more than an hour after the game, soaking in a video presentation and cheering former stars, then staying to cheer their current stars, who came back on the field for the ultimate curtain call.

The tribute marked the end of a month of tributes for the place and the people who played here, with Cardinals from the past and present taking in their last few sips of Busch Stadium from September to October.

Outside, there are statues of Stan Musial and several others who have made St. Louis baseball such a unique experience. Inside, there's been a statue-in-the-making in Albert Pujols, and the current superstar says there's a lot he'll miss about this place.

"Everything, man," Pujols said. "The fans, the players, the home runs I hit here, all the moments we had here the last two weeks of the season with every Hall of Famer coming through and the future Hall of Famers."

For Matt Morris, the memories were quite personal, and just as poignant.
"I grew up here," the career Cardinal said. "I grew up playing ball here. My whole professional life has been here. It's going to be disappointing to see it down, with all the memories I had, the good times and bad and what I've learned throughout the years. But I think the change will be good for the city and the team and the organization. Next year is a new year."

Ah, but the years rolled by in the mind's eye for so many Cardinals fans Thursday night. From the final days of Bob Gibson and Lou Brock to the first days of Pujols, from the Ozzie Smith homer to Big Mac's No. 62, they're really too numerous to mention.

But all of those memories and more came over the video board after the final out, with the image of Jack Buck -- the voice of the Cardinals for nearly 50 years -- drawing the first huge ovation, but not the last.

As the video rolled, the reality became clear. And the reality is this:

It's not about the concrete doughnut itself, or the grass or the seats. It's not about the unique structure, even if it's a circular image that will burn in many a baseball fan's eye for years to come.

It's about the people. It's about Bob Gibson. It's about Lou Brock. It's about Ozzie Smith. It's about Darryl Kile. It's about Tony La Russa. It's about Albert Pujols. It's about Jack Buck.

It's about the memories. And, be it as it may, Thursday night was another memory to put in the Busch Stadium scrapbook, the final entry.

But there are many more memories to be created for this proud franchise, and they will be created just a matter of yards away at the new yard next door. It'll be different, yet it'll be the same.

Busch Stadium is gone.

Long live Busch Stadium.

Wino you know wrote:

Cubbie Bear wrote:Hey, I love the White Sox, especially AJ Konerko and Jermaine Crede, I'll send you my tab

Okay, "White Sox Bear!"
BTW-My wife has a flight out of Moline at 10:00 AM next Wednesday (2nd). Wanna meet at Hooters? First drink will be on me.

I'd let ya buy me a Diet Coke at lunch time, that is unless you want to hold down the fort until 5:00

UPDATED!!!


Seasons Played without WINNING the World Series:
** = Have never won

CHICAGO WHITE SOX: 0
BOSTON RED SOX: 1
FLORIDA MARLINS: 2
ANAHEIM ANGELS: 3
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: 4
NEW YORK YANKMEES: 5
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS: 8**
ATLANTA BRAVES: 10
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: 12
COLORADO ROCKIES: 12**
MINNESOTA TWINS: 14
CINCINNATI REDS: 15
OAKLAND ATHLETICS: 16
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: 17
NEW YORK METS: 19
KANSAS CITY ROYALS: 20
DETROIT TIGERS: 21
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: 22
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: 23
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: 25
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: 26
SEATTLE MARINERS: 28**
MILWAUKEE BREWERS/SEATTLE PILOTS: 36 **
SAN DIEGO PADRES: 36**
WASHINGTON NATIONALS/MONTREAL EXPOS: 36**
HOUSTON ASTROS: 43**
TEXAS RANGERS/WASHINGTON SENATORS: 43**
SAN FRANSISCO/NEW YORK GIANTS: 51
CLEVELAND INDIANS: 57
CHICAGO CUBS: 97


Seasons played without PLAYING IN the World Series:
** = Have never been to the World Series

CHICAGO WHITE SOX: 0
HOUSTON ASTROS: 0
BOSTON RED SOX: 1
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: 1
FLORIDA MARLINS: 2
NEW YORK YANKEES: 2
SAN FRANSISCO GIANTS: 3
ANAHEIM ANGELS: 3
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: 4
NEW YORK METS: 5
ATLANTA BRAVES: 6
SAN DIEGO PADRES: 7
CLEVELAND INDIANS: 8
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS: 8**
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: 12
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: 12
COLORADO ROCKIES: 12**
MINNESOTA TWINS: 14
CINCINNATI REDS: 15
OAKLAND ATHLETICS: 15
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: 17
KANSAS CITY ROYALS: 20
DETROIT TIGERS: 21
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: 22
MILWAUKEE BREWERS: 23
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: 26
SEATTLE MARINERS: 28**
WASHINGTON NATIONALS/MONTREAL EXPOS: 36**
TEXAS RANGERS/WASHINGTON SENATORS: 43**
CHICAGO CUBS: 60



Really says something about the Cubs, doesn't it?

Paul Konerko didn't wait long. Less than 24 hours after game 4 he filed for free agancy.

The White Sox-Astros World Series was lowest-rated ever. With the size of Chicago and Houston I find that odd. It's probably because neither team has a big national following outside of their city. I wonder what the ratings were in Chi and Hou?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2 ... id=2206044

BottleofRum wrote: The White Sox-Astros World Serieswas lowest-rated ever. With the size of Chicago and Houston I find that odd. It probably because neither team has a big national following outside of their city.

Low ratings don't surprise me....most of the games were ending after 11:00 PM CENTRAL!!! East coast, that's after midnight...and game 3 didn't end until 1:30 am central.

CaptainP wrote:Really says something about the Cubs, doesn't it?

They're losers. But nothing beats a beautiful summer day at Wrigley watching the Cubbies... win, lose or well... lose worse.

CaptainP wrote:UPDATED!!!


Seasons Played without WINNING the World Series:
** = Have never won

CHICAGO WHITE SOX: 0
BOSTON RED SOX: 1
FLORIDA MARLINS: 2
ANAHEIM ANGELS: 3
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: 4
NEW YORK YANKMEES: 5
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS: 8**
ATLANTA BRAVES: 10
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: 12
COLORADO ROCKIES: 12**
MINNESOTA TWINS: 14
CINCINNATI REDS: 15
OAKLAND ATHLETICS: 16
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: 17
NEW YORK METS: 19
KANSAS CITY ROYALS: 20
DETROIT TIGERS: 21
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: 22
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: 23
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: 25
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: 26
SEATTLE MARINERS: 28**
MILWAUKEE BREWERS/SEATTLE PILOTS: 36 **
SAN DIEGO PADRES: 36**
WASHINGTON NATIONALS/MONTREAL EXPOS: 36**
HOUSTON ASTROS: 43**
TEXAS RANGERS/WASHINGTON SENATORS: 43**
SAN FRANSISCO/NEW YORK GIANTS: 51
CLEVELAND INDIANS: 57
CHICAGO CUBS: 97


Seasons played without PLAYING IN the World Series:
** = Have never been to the World Series

CHICAGO WHITE SOX: 0
HOUSTON ASTROS: 0
BOSTON RED SOX: 1
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: 1
FLORIDA MARLINS: 2
NEW YORK YANKEES: 2
SAN FRANSISCO GIANTS: 3
ANAHEIM ANGELS: 3
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: 4
NEW YORK METS: 5
ATLANTA BRAVES: 6
SAN DIEGO PADRES: 7
CLEVELAND INDIANS: 8
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS: 8**
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: 12
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: 12
COLORADO ROCKIES: 12**
MINNESOTA TWINS: 14
CINCINNATI REDS: 15
OAKLAND ATHLETICS: 15
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: 17
KANSAS CITY ROYALS: 20
DETROIT TIGERS: 21
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: 22
MILWAUKEE BREWERS: 23
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: 26
SEATTLE MARINERS: 28**
WASHINGTON NATIONALS/MONTREAL EXPOS: 36**
TEXAS RANGERS/WASHINGTON SENATORS: 43**
CHICAGO CUBS: 60



Really says something about the Cubs, doesn't it?

SO

Cubbie Bear wrote:

Wino you know wrote:

Cubbie Bear wrote:Hey, I love the White Sox, especially AJ Konerko and Jermaine Crede, I'll send you my tab

Okay, "White Sox Bear!"
BTW-My wife has a flight out of Moline at 10:00 AM next Wednesday (2nd). Wanna meet at Hooters? First drink will be on me.

I'd let ya buy me a Diet Coke at lunch time, that is unless you want to hold down the fort until 5:00

I'll buy you a freaking DIET COKE!
I'll have a beer FOR YOU when I get back home. (Sorry I have to be back by 2:30 PM).

RinglingRingling wrote:St. Louis savors memories of Busch
NLCS loss marks the end of one era, the beginning of another

John Schlegel




ST. LOUIS -- Down to the very last out, the stands were still full of Cardinals fans, all of them standing in red-clad unison, flashbulbs popping all around for the entire ninth inning.
It was a moment to remember. It was a moment to say farewell.

It just wasn't the moment anyone there was hoping would be the dying breath of Busch Stadium.

Alas, this wasn't how the script was supposed to be written for Busch Stadium's final game, was it? But October writes its own script, and the Astros wrote their ticket to the World Series on Wednesday night, not the beloved Cardinals.

So it was with a gentle golf clap instead of a thunderous roar that the last out at Busch Stadium was recorded, the ball off Yadier Molina's bat falling gently into the glove of Astros right fielder Jason Lane.

No shouts of joy. No trophy taking a victory lap. And the wrong team dancing on the infield.

The venue that hosted six World Series and eight National League Championship Series in its 40-year history had seen its last game.

Soon, a "Let's Go, Cardinals" chant started echoing through the place, with perhaps new meaning: Let's go next door, Cardinals -- next door to the new Busch Stadium that will open in 2006, its red bricks replacing the concrete, its view of the Gateway Arch replacing the arches that encircle the top of the upper deck, its history yet to be written as it replaces a stadium with so much history now confined to the record books.

"Time marches on," Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt said in the quiet clubhouse afterward. "We've got a wonderful new facility that will open next year. It's still Busch Stadium. It's still the same place, the same location."

That said, even as DeWitt was uttering those words, thousands upon thousands of Cardinals fans just didn't want to let go. They stayed for more than an hour after the game, soaking in a video presentation and cheering former stars, then staying to cheer their current stars, who came back on the field for the ultimate curtain call.

The tribute marked the end of a month of tributes for the place and the people who played here, with Cardinals from the past and present taking in their last few sips of Busch Stadium from September to October.

Outside, there are statues of Stan Musial and several others who have made St. Louis baseball such a unique experience. Inside, there's been a statue-in-the-making in Albert Pujols, and the current superstar says there's a lot he'll miss about this place.

"Everything, man," Pujols said. "The fans, the players, the home runs I hit here, all the moments we had here the last two weeks of the season with every Hall of Famer coming through and the future Hall of Famers."

For Matt Morris, the memories were quite personal, and just as poignant.
"I grew up here," the career Cardinal said. "I grew up playing ball here. My whole professional life has been here. It's going to be disappointing to see it down, with all the memories I had, the good times and bad and what I've learned throughout the years. But I think the change will be good for the city and the team and the organization. Next year is a new year."

Ah, but the years rolled by in the mind's eye for so many Cardinals fans Thursday night. From the final days of Bob Gibson and Lou Brock to the first days of Pujols, from the Ozzie Smith homer to Big Mac's No. 62, they're really too numerous to mention.

But all of those memories and more came over the video board after the final out, with the image of Jack Buck -- the voice of the Cardinals for nearly 50 years -- drawing the first huge ovation, but not the last.

As the video rolled, the reality became clear. And the reality is this:

It's not about the concrete doughnut itself, or the grass or the seats. It's not about the unique structure, even if it's a circular image that will burn in many a baseball fan's eye for years to come.

It's about the people. It's about Bob Gibson. It's about Lou Brock. It's about Ozzie Smith. It's about Darryl Kile. It's about Tony La Russa. It's about Albert Pujols. It's about Jack Buck.

It's about the memories. And, be it as it may, Thursday night was another memory to put in the Busch Stadium scrapbook, the final entry.

But there are many more memories to be created for this proud franchise, and they will be created just a matter of yards away at the new yard next door. It'll be different, yet it'll be the same.

Busch Stadium is gone.

Long live Busch Stadium.

r2, thanks for the article. Unfortunately, some people wanted a piece of Busch Stadium so much, they stole the microphone off of the Jack Buck statue out front.

iuparrothead wrote:

CaptainP wrote:Really says something about the Cubs, doesn't it?

They're losers. But nothing beats a beautiful summer day at Wrigley watching the Cubbies... win, lose or well... lose worse.

Ahhh Wrigley Field...Chicago's largest bar

TheSecretsInTheCrust wrote:Ahhh Wrigley Field...Chicago's largest bar

No, that would be City Hall.

How long before the awards announcements start?

BadHabitsAcctnt wrote:How long before the awards announcements start?

The big ones are usually scheduled for the week after the Series. The series, had it gone 7, would have ended on Sunday. Look for awards on Monday or Tuesday.

CaptainP wrote:

BadHabitsAcctnt wrote:How long before the awards announcements start?

The big ones are usually scheduled for the week after the Series. The series, had it gone 7, would have ended on Sunday. Look for awards on Monday or Tuesday.

So it should be tomorrow then?

Okay let's add some spice to this aging thread:

Who do you want your team to add next year:


Yankees:
CF Juan Pierre
RP BJ Ryan
a defensive 1B

jonesbeach10 wrote:Okay let's add some spice to this aging thread:

Who do you want your team to add next year:


Yankees:
CF Juan Pierre
RP BJ Ryan
a defensive 1B

I understand Konerko (career fielding % of .995) is shopping himself around ...

Caribbean Soul wrote:

jonesbeach10 wrote:Okay let's add some spice to this aging thread:

Who do you want your team to add next year:


Yankees:
CF Juan Pierre
RP BJ Ryan
a defensive 1B

I understand Konerko (career fielding % of .995) is shopping himself around ...

Hmmm, let's take a look at that lineup:

CF Juan Pierre..........L
SS Derek Jeter.........R
3B Alex Rodriguez.... R
RF Gary Sheffield..... R
DH Jason Giambi.......L
1B Paul Konerko.......R
LF Hideki Matsui........L
C Jorge Posada........S
2B Robbie Cano....... L

I also want to resign Matsui. He's worth the JD Drew contract!

Maybe it's just wishful thinking or sippin' to much of my WSox kool-aid, but I think Konerko will be back with the World Champs.

BadHabitsAcctnt wrote:Maybe it's just wishful thinking or sippin' to much of my WSox kool-aid, but I think Konerko will be back with the World Champs.

I think it'll be the Angels, but the White Sox would be the second most likely.