CARDINALS, YOU ARE FUCKING KILLING ME RIGHT NOW. SHIT. SHIT SHIT SHIT.




ETA:

>FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

OMG, 15 INNINGS OF AWESOME.

WHAT A FUCKING AWESOME GAME.

I sincerely wish I had been down at the ballpark for this game. It was so epic. It would have been a great game even if we'd lost, but it's all the more epic and awesome that we won.

LET'S GO, CARDINALS!!

Back to half a game atop the Cubs. Let's keep it up, Birds!!

Um.

Shower and then downtown? WTF, why am I still sitting here?

HOLY SHIT, IT'S ALL-STAR WEEK!!! =D

I need to go and find the Arches they decorated for this shindig, and see what all else they've done to downtown to make it ready for this event - it's like my own personal scavenger hunt =D

I also still need to find a Gryffindor tie and shit for tomorrow night D=

If Milwaukee lose tonight, we'll be tied for first! Go Twins! And Chicago's fallen to 4th! Huzzah! I know it's early on in the season yet, but I don't care. This makes my heart happy.

I hope I get this job on Tuesday so I have money so I can go to Cardinals games. It's unlike me to not have attended at least one game this far into the season.


In other news: I finally got my phone charger back! YAY. I have so many things that need sorting out that require the phone.

Also,

Dear motorcycles,

I hate when you rumble down my street, as it invariably sets off my car alarm. Kindly fuck off.

Thanks,
nicccc

Things are looking up for several reasons:

1. I got an e-mail from my mum asking me, if she were able to do it, from whom would I like an autographed All-Star baseball: Ozzie Smith, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, or Stan Musial? Er, WHAT?!!?!!?!? All are so awesome, but I already have an autographed Ozzie Smith ball, and I've met and talked baseball with him before. I ultimately told her I wanted one signed by Musial because one of my first memories of playing softball had to do with Musial, not to mention when my family and I were nearly run over by him at the home opener of the 1996 season. Plus, he's well old, so who knows how much longer I've a chance to get a ball signed by him, y'know? But God, I would love balls signed by Gibby and Brock, too. Next time.

2. Speaking of the Cardinals, they fucking swept the Cubs at Busch!! Yes! Perfect timing, too, as we have taken such a swan dive in the month of May, and have gone from a good distance in front in first to third. Now we're solidly in second to the Milwaukee Brewers (2.0 games back, Chicago is 4 back and in third). We open play against the KC Royals tonight. Should be a good series - it generally is.

3. The weather. It's so awesome right now. The only thing marring this is the fact that the river is flooded, and so there is no where for me to go and just lie on a beach since they're all underwater. Oh, well. I might take out my bike later and just ride aimlessly.

4. I might have a job as soon as Tuesday, which is fabulous! It'll be at Schnuck's, a local grocery chain. Not all that glamorous, but it's money, and it's at the new downtown location, so it's nearby and that location is supposed to cater to the loft district and all the rich young professionals that live there, or at least that's what I heard.

5. fancynewgin and I are going to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince dressed up as the Black Brothers. I am so ridiculously excited for this =D =D =D.

6. There is something else I am really excited about, but I can't think of it right now as the other items on this list are just so awesome.

I think I'll rather like it at Hammerstone's. The only obnoxious bit is that we have to prepare our own salads.

SO IF YOU COME TO VISIT ME AT WORK, AND KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU, YOU WON'T ORDER A BLOODY SALAD :D

In other news, I am one step closer to realising one of my many dreams: working for the St Louis Cardinals. I hae successfully secured a ticket to the game against the Pirates on Thursday, 6 September (MY BIRTHDAY, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW), which happens to be Career Day at Busch. lol. They'll probably just hand out loads of brochures and the like. You never know, though.

Mum suggested I go to their offices and hand in a CV prior to that. All well and good, but what would that CV say?

I AM TEH NICCCC AND I LIKE TEH BAZEBAWL. ALBERT PUJOLS IS A GEWD HITTER K PEASE BI.

???
It's not as though I've experience in the field (OMG PUN LOLOLOL I AM SO FUNNY).

I suppose I could always put something along the lines of Look, I gave you most of my income the past few years; it's high-time you start giving some of it back.

IT'S JUST A FACT.

_{Gary Oldman Nic screaming about his her wee arms}

I've had recent bad luck with bug bites.

It started on the fourth, and I just attributed the bites to mosquitos (I had been sitting outside the entire time). There were quite a lot of them: at least 15-20 on my legs and ass, all said. As I started moving things in to my new apartment, I noticed an increase in the bite count without me venturing outside more than to take trash out/walk to/from the car.

What could cause such a thing? I wondered, and then I had an epiphany last night.

FLEAS

The previous occupant had a cat, and judging by the state of some things, was not the cleanliest of creatures. I think that cat had fleas, the fleas laid eggs into the carpet (hardwood floors, you make me love you more and more each day), and now they're bite crazy. Everyone else that's been through has seemed immune to their parasitic tendencies, and I'm glad for them, so I wonder what it is about me that makes me so delectable (besides the fact that I'm awesome).

So, yeah, the exterminator is coming out on Thursday. Huzzah!

I tried taking pictures of all my bites, but on film, they're pretty indistinguishable from my freckles =\

UP TONIGHT:


TRIVIA NIGHT
which i will play whilst watching


&& at midnight CDT:



CHILLIN WIV BIG D AIGHT BIG UP YOSELF


ETA (AND COUNTING)
I SHOULD FIND AN OLD T-SHIRT AND WRITE 'THE WEIRD SISTERS' ON IT FOR THE MOVIE TONIGHT.

Y/Y?

Guy better get his ass on the phone and let me know if he got the tickets to the Cards game tonight. They're supposed to be for the Cardinal Club seats, which are the green, cushy ones behind home plate, where you are served unlimited beer and food...all through the 9th inning!!

UM LOOK FOR ME AND MY BRIGHT HAIRS ON TEA.V IF I GO!!

Oh, and the guy that lives in the apt I've rented in Soulard needs to move the fuck out. He was supposed to be out 30 June, and when I went by yesterday, some of his stuff was still there.

I PAID FOR A FULL MONTH, GUY. GTFO!

I'd call the landlord, but he's in China until the 6th.

ETA
Guy has failed in his task of securing Cards tickets. He's saying maybe Thursday, which would require me to get off work.

Off to Trivia Night at Island Bar now!

The Cards need to hurry up and win this so I can go and get some food.

SHOPS ARE ONLY OPEN SO LATE, GUYS.

Albert needs to learn to not be so aggressive on the basepaths, especially since he's not the fastest runner. I probably could have been on my way to Jimmy John's by now.

And the Royals wouldn't have De Jesus on third. GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

ETA

THANK YOU, RYAN LUDWICK. BECAUSE OF YOUR TIMELY WALK-OFF HR, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO JIMMY JOHN'S IN TIME FOR A SAMMICH AND SOME SHIPPIES. YUM YUM.

AND HEY, WITH THE W TONIGHT, WE'VE OVERTAKEN THE CUBS FOR SECOND IN THE CENTRAL. YAYS!

Bright Eyes in Omaha were absolutely amazing. Much better than the Chicago show. It also helped that even though it was a seated venue (and quite a nice one at that), people started running up to the stage about 2/3 of the way through. I got right up there. I hate sitting during shows. When Conor came to our side of the stage, I was the only whose hand he touched =P (LOL ~FANGIRL~). I also got some flowers from the stage. Yay for fake flowers. I like them. they're ~yellow~.

Setlist:

Clairaudients (Kill or be Killed)
Hot Knives
Make a Plan to Love Me
Middleman
False Advertising
Soul Singer in a Session Band
No One Would Riot for Less
First Day of My Life (the new version, like the one they did in Chicago - v. cool. iapprove)
Classic Cars
Cleanse Song ('for Nancy')
I Believe in Symmetry ('For Clarke; it's his birthday today')
Lime Tree

- ENCORE -
Goldmine Gutted (this is when he touched me HAH)
Four Winds (so much fun, this one!)
Road to Joy

Near the end of the show, Conor was introducing the band, and he was like, 'You may have noticed someone is missing,' and everyone started shouting, 'WHERE'S MOGIS?' 'WE WANT MIKE!' and things in that nature.

Apparently Mogis was off attending a prenuptial dinner for his brother. So congratulations to AJ, who got married today ('We never thought it would happen, but here it is') [you know, because people at Saddle Creek know who I am, and regularly check my elljay]

After the show, I went to O'Leaver's, which is a bar on South Saddle Creek Road. As soon as I walked in the door, this guy (whose name turned out to be Lance) put his arm around me and said, 'You arrived at the right place at the right time!' and proceeded to buy me a beer. Nice. I shot some pool with him, and this girl, Brianna, with whom he works came up to us. Lance explained that I was from St Louis, she asked where I was staying, I replied quite honestly that I didn't know yet, so she invited me to stay at her place. She, Lance and I, and her roommate, Rob, stayed up all night being ~naughty~.

THIS IS WHY OMAHA > CHICAGO. People there are so chill and lovely.

So yeah, I had an absolutely awesome time. I can't speak right now - my voice is gone - but really, that's only indicative of how good a time I had :D

AND NO NEAR CAR CRASHES ON THE WAY BACK :D :D :D EVEN IN THE CRAZY RAINNNN.

I also went to the Cards/Cubs game straight from Omaha, basically. I didn't stop off at home, at any rate. Awesome, awesome, exciting game, even though we lost :'(. NEXT TIME, GADGET!! NEXT TIME!!!!

tonylarussaisafuckingpimp. ilovethatman. soclass.

I'm like some colicky infant, in that I can't sleep through the night.

At least I'm not sobbing inconsolably.

My eyes itch something awful, but I'm glad baseball is back (not that those two things have anything to do with each other)!

So what if I nicked this off some Houston fan's LJ? It still made me laugh...probably because it is something an Astros fan would do ;)...cheap buggers :


Four Major League Baseball fans went rock climbing: a Yankee fan, a Red Sox fan, an Astros fan, and a Cardinals fan. They had been arguing all the way up the mountain about who amongst them loved their team more and was
the most "die hard" fan.

The argument grew hotter and hotter and the four fans grew more and more agitated. Such was the emotion that upon reaching the top of the mountain, the Yankee fan proclaimed loudly and earnestly to the other three, "This is for the New York Yankees!" and without a moments hesitation threw himself off the mountain.

The supreme sacrifice!

Not to be outdone by a Yankee fan, the Red Sox fan jumped up and cried out, "This is for the Boston Red Sox!" and quickly threw himself off the mountain, also willing to sacrifice himself to prove his devotion to his team.

Refusing to be outdone by the Yankee and Red Sox fans, the Astros fan rose to his feet, summoned up every ounce of his courage, and yelled at the top of his lungs, "This is for the Houston Astros!" and without a moment's hesitation, shoved the Cardinals fan off the mountain.

I'm compiling and comparing stats to find the best free agent second baseman for the Cardinals for their money.

Sad, isn't it?

This is what I've determined so far (and this will be updated as I go):

BY 2005 SALARY (PRICIEST to LEAST):

Ray Durham #_______$7.2m
Fernando Vina______$3m
Ron Belliard #_____$2.5m
Todd Walker #______$2.5m
Jose Vizcaino______$1.25m
Tony Graffanino____$1.1m
Mark Grudzielanek__$1m
Miguel Cairo_______$.9m
Deivi Cruz_________$.8m
Damion Easley______$.75m
Rich Aurilia #_____$.5m

I couldn't find figures for Manny Alexander (SD) or Roberto Alomar (TB)

# - Player and/or Club Option.

---

And now for a completely useless stat:

%AGE OF CLUB PAYROLL SPENT:

Ray Durham #_______08.05
Ron Belliard #_____05.98
Fernando Vina______04.35
Todd Walker #______02.87
Deivi Cruz_________01.65
Jose Vizcaino______01.63
Damion Easley______01.24
Mark Grudzielanek__01.08
Tony Graffanino____00.91
Miguel Cairo_______00.86
Rich Aurilia #_____00.84

---

GAMES PLAYED IN 2005:

Ron Belliard #_____145
Ray Durham #_______142
Mark Grudzielanek__137
Rich Aurilia #_____114
Todd Walker #______110
Tony Graffanino____110
Damion Easley______102
Deivi Cruz_________101
Miguel Cairo_______100
Jose Vizcaino______98
Manny Alexander____10

---

AT BATS in 2005:

Ron Belliard #_____536
Mark Grudzielanek__528
Ray Durham #_______497
Rich Aurilia #_____426
Todd Walker #______397
Tony Graffanino____379
Miguel Cairo_______327
Damion Easley______267
Deivi Cruz_________260
Jose Vizcaino______187
Manny Alexander____18

---

RUNS in 2005:

Ron Belliard #_____71
Tony Graffanino____68
Ray Durham #_______67
Mark Grudzielanek__64
Rich Aurilia #_____61
Todd Walker #______50
Damion Easley______37
Miguel Cairo_______31
Deivi Cruz_________28
Jose Vizcaino______15
Manny Alexander____0

---

[useless]% AB RESULTING in RUNS:

Tony Graffanino____17.94%
Rich Aurilia #_____14.31%
Damion Easley______13.86%
Ray Durham #_______13.48%
Ron Belliard #_____13.25%
Todd Walker #______12.59%
Mark Grudzielanek__12.12%
Deivi Cruz_________10.77%
Miguel Cairo_______9.48%
Jose Vizcaino______8.02%
Manny Alexander____0.00%

Reckon that depends on who's batting behind you in the line-up.

---

HITS in 2005:

Mark Grudzielanek__155
Ron Belliard #_____152
Ray Durham #_______144
Todd Walker #______121
Rich Aurilia #_____120
Tony Graffanino____117
Miguel Cairo_______82
Deivi Cruz_________69
Damion Easley______64
Jose Vizcaino______46
Manny Alexander____2

---

2B in 2005:

Belliard #_________36
Durham #___________33
Grudzielanek_______30
Walker #___________25
Aurilia #__________23
Easley_____________19
Cairo______________18
Graffanino_________17
Cruz_______________11
Vizcaino___________10
Alexander__________1

---

[useless]% of HITS BEING 2B:

Alexander__________50.00%
Easley_____________29.69%
Belliard #_________23.68%
Durham #___________22.92%
Cairo______________21.93%
Vizcaino___________21.74%
Walker #___________20.66%
Grudzielanek_______19.35%
Aurilia #__________19.17%
Cruz_______________15.94%
Graffanino_________14.53%

---

3B in 2005:

Graffanino_________3
Grudzielanek_______3
Walker #___________3
Aurilia #__________2
Vizcaino___________2
Belliard #_________1
Cruz_______________1
Easley_____________1
Alexander__________0
Cairo______________0
Durham #___________0

---

% of HITS BEING 3B:

Vizcaino___________4.35%
Graffanino_________2.56%
Walker #___________2.48%
Grudzielanek_______1.94%
Aurilia #__________1.67%
Easley_____________1.56%
Cruz_______________1.45%
Belliard #_________0.66%
Alexander__________0.00%
Cairo______________0.00%
Durham #___________0.00%

---

HR:

Belliard #_________17
Aurilia #__________14
Durham #___________12
Walker #___________12
Easley_____________9
Grudzielanek_______8
Graffanino_________7
Cruz_______________5
Cairo______________2
Vizcaino___________1
Alexander__________0

---

% of HITS BEING HR:

Easley_____________14.06%
Aurilia #__________11.67%
Belliard #_________11.18%
Walker #___________09.92%
Durham #___________08.33%
Cruz_______________07.25%
Graffanino_________05.98%
Grudzielanek_______05.16%
Cairo______________02.44%
Vizcaino___________02.17%
Alexander__________00.00%

---

RBI:

Belliard #_________78
Aurilia #__________68
Durham #___________62
Grudzielanek_______59
Walker #___________40
Graffanino_________38
Easley_____________30
Vizcaino___________23
Cruz_______________20
Cairo______________19
Alexander__________0

---

SB:

Cairo______________13
Grudzielanek_______8
Graffanino_________7
Durham #___________6
Easley_____________4
Aurilia #__________2
Belliard #_________2
Vizcaino___________2
Walker #___________1
Alexander__________0
Cruz_______________0

---

BB:

Durham #___________48
Aurilia #__________37
Belliard #_________35
Graffanino_________31
Walker #___________31
Easley_____________26
Grudzielanek_______26
Cairo______________19
Vizcaino___________15
Cruz_______________11
Alexander__________2

---

SO:

Alexander__________5
Cairo______________31
Cruz_______________34
Walker #___________40
Vizcaino___________40
Easley_____________47
Graffanino_________51
Durham #___________59
Aurilia #__________67
Belliard #_________72
Grudzielanek_______81

---

% ABs RESULTING in SO:

Cairo______________9.48%
Walker #___________10.08%
Durham #___________11.87%
Cruz_______________13.08%
Belliard #_________13.43%
Graffanino_________13.46%
Grudzielanek_______15.34%
Aurilia #__________15.73%
Easley_____________17.60%
Vizcaino___________21.39%
Alexander__________27.78%

---

OBP:

Graffanino_________.366
Durham #___________.356
Walker #___________.355
Aurilia #__________.338
Grudzielanek_______.334
Belliard #_________.325
Easley_____________.312
Vizcaino___________.299
Cruz_______________.298
Cairo______________.296
Alexander__________.238

---

SLG:

Walker #___________.474
Belliard #_________.450
Aurilia #__________.444
Durham #___________.429
Graffanino_________.425
Easley_____________.419
Grudzielanek_______.407
Cruz_______________.373
Vizcaino___________.337
Cairo______________.324
Alexander__________.167

---

I will analyse and do the fielding stats tomorrow. I am tired of typing at present.

The only thing I can say with absolute certainty is that I did not expect it to end like this. I wouldn't let myself believe it. All season I've had this thought niggling in the back of my mind saying to me, reassuring me, This is it. Not just a title this year, but THE title. We'll send Busch out proper.

I never claimed to be psychic.

If it had gone my way, the last game at Busch would have been on the 26th when we were up in the World Series 3-0.

At least it should have ended with a close game, something immensely exciting, something that would serve as a wonderful analogy to how the game was played here.

Alas, the Cardinals and Busch fall with a 5-1 score delivered by the Astros in game six of the 2005 NLCS, and sadly, one of the main thoughts making its round through my brain is how a writer in Houston had called us "goobers", and that the Astros would find champagne in St Louis.

Champagne can be purchased and spilt, popped and sprayed anywhere. What that writer did not say they would find in St Louis is class.

We are a classy organisation. That's it. There's no way to contest that. But you can't win based on class alone. I firmly believe we are the best club in baseball, but we did not play like it in this series - Houston accomplished that - so should it be us or them? That's neither here nor there. I don't care to debate that with myself at present.

Back to my original intention in writing this post: celebrating Busch Stadium.

Though the result of the game was far from ideal, the atmosphere was superb.

I've been to countless games in the old ballpark, and never have I seen it so packed, just absolutely teeming with red shirts and white jerseys, people proud to say that it's all for the (red)birds, and such tangible excitement. Every time the Cards took the field, be it for batting or fielding, the crowd cheered them on, supporting them unconditionally. I've never seen that before. When it's gone downhill in the past, the noise level of the fans have gone with it, but that was not the case last night. Each new batter, be he of Houston or of St Louis, presented a new opportunity for the Cardinals to show the country what we in St Louis have always known: they're the best club out there, and the crowd at Busch fully supported that conclusion.

I feel like I'm repeating myself, and I'm getting too distracted to keep writing this, but as it's been said since 1982:

Next year.

I am eternally grateful for that. Nice one, Mabry!

If Grudzielanek wasn't so anxious when batting against Lidge, he might have got a hold of something. A foul at least.

And it looked like Lane intentionally took out Nunez. The ball wasn't going to be there fast enough for there to be a tag even if Lane had gone round him instead of going through. There was no reason for that...unless he meant to take out Nunez. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. Nunez was way off third, goddammit! There is no justification for Lane's baserunning on that play.

And Luna's throw down to Molina! Gahh! At least it bounced back far enough that he was able to throw it back to Eckstein to get the out at 3rd, but that doesn't give back the run Houston got off it.

>:O <---that is me yelling at the Cardinals.

TLR, put in Marquis, goddammit!! He can at least pitch against the Astros! Not that Morris didn't do well today - he did - but where was our defence?!

Hell, where the fuck is our offence?!

Where are the Cardinals that looked better than last year's team?!




PS - I counted off 90 feet in my front yard and am practising baserunning. My best time was 4.01 seconds tonight. I need to see the average for the majors. Keep in mind that this is on grass with trainers, not dirt in cleats, so that's bound to make a difference.

I want to race Molina down the line! I think I could win =oD

I registered for a chance to purchase tickets to the World Series in case everything with Mike and/or Stu falls through.

If you're 18+, you should, too. They're making it so that winners of the drawing from registering would have the chance to buy two tickets to one game of the Series.

Tickets go on sale Saturday at 9a.

Cardinals' Website

Thanks, Cardinals, for giving me a reason why St Louis is one of my favourite cities.






Yay, Grudzie!

Yay, Jimmy!