TrueBlue4ever

Only downside is it will conflict with the Jets game now. McDavid vs championship final in Winnipeg. I already had tix to the hockey game bought last week, but was planning to go tonight to the ball game had they won yesterday. Oh well.

So to answer my own question (since I looked it up), the balk is a dead ball play unless the pitcher throws it, and if a hit/error/base on balls occurs for the batter the play is considered live (and if a walk occurs, any other baserunners also advance a base even if not as a result of the walk), and as long as one base is advanced by all, the balk is negated and the play goes on as if no balk occurred. So anything over one base can then be played normally, and if an out occurs from the attempt to advance more than one base, then so be it. Kind of silly since a balk occurs before the pitch happens, so it really should be a dead ball play all the time, to my way of thinking.

Thanks for the clarification. Did not know that. Here's a question arising from that, however. Runner was on 2nd. Suppose the hit goes through, batter gets safely to first, and the runner on 2nd breaks for home but is thrown out at the plate (or even worse, the batter tries to stretch to a double and is thrown out before the runner gets home). Would the out count or would the play be wiped out by the balk? I see trouble either way the decision goes based on the rule that a hit wipes out the balk: - if the balk wipes out any out, then the runner has nothing to lose by trying to score, and the defensive team gets penalized more than one base should the runner be safe at home - if the balk only applies to one base, and the runner advances past third (or the batter tries for second) at their own peril, not really fair to the baserunner who doesn't know they have an automatic base being awarded since the balk is not signaled until after the play. -also not fair to the defending team who might rush a throw that isn't going to count if they get the putout, get an error instead, and allow the runner going to third to advance to home rather than re-setting and knowing their situation Strange rule, IMO.

Balk was called. If you watch closely he waggles down but doesn't make a distinct stopping motion at the bottom of his wind-up, coming up slightly before going into his delivery. The right call by the book, but not a blatant balk like some where the pitcher makes an obvious flinch or fakes a throw when he needs to commit. The worst part of it is that the ump let the ground ball play out rather than stopping the play immediately and signaling balk. But given the Wingnuts' reaction (especially the pitcher and catcher) they didn't seem to object to the call.

Gretchen, stop trying to make "fetch" happen. It isn't going to happen.

"A not-so-brief History of Time: the CFL video review process" by Jake Ireland

"Keep It Simple Stupid - Overthinking in the big game" By Dave Dickinson, forward by Pete Carroll. "Growing a thinner skin" A collection of posts from MBB.

I actually misspoke on that point. Should have qualified it with "first .500 team in the 9 team crossover era". It's actually happened 11 times since the CFL was founded in 1959, and twice since the crossover was implemented in 1986 (but those 2 were during the American expansion era, both involving U.S. teams), with 4 teams with winning records actually missing the playoffs. The most glaring example was 1981 when Saskatchewan went 9-7 and finished 4th and missed the playoffs while Ottawa at 5-11 and Montreal at 3-15 both got in. That is likely what spurred the crossover rule. Maybe all 5 West teams finishing ahead of the top East team will finally spur the "single division" change.

Final 2 teams, a week late (probably because I am embarrassed at how off I was on these two), so I'll try to not let this past weekend's results affect my forecast. Then no more of my ramblings on this. Saskatchewan : What I said then - "If Vince Young actually made the roster and was anointed the starter, I would be waxing poetic about historic futility with this team (like 2003 Hamilton 1-17 futility), but Kevin Glenn has been around long enough to be a better regular season QB and pull a rabbit out of his hat once in a while to translate into a few more wins. And that receiving corps could keep them in a few games. However, it would require their o-line to actually give him time to throw, and his mobility is not what it used to be (not that it was ever his best feature). And too much overhaul by Chris Jones with no return on his gambles, and like Mike Kelly, the distractions will supercede the results on the field. I think the fans are already at revolt stage, how long before the players are there too? 3-15 (and that might even be charitable, but give them one win at home against Winnipeg - either the first game at the stadium opener where the fans will be jacked up or Labour Day which is always bizarro world for Winnipeg regardless of our record going in, one against Toronto, and one late in the year when the other random team is in the playoffs and doesn't care)." How did I do? - About that..... Well, the team has certainly bought into what Jones is selling more than I would have given him credit for, and Glenn is having a career year at age 38 that no one could have predicted. I did call two of their victories correctly, though. Did not see the Edmonton or BC wins happening, however. So they will be much more competitive than first envisioned, still I picked them last and they can easily track that way in a brutally tough West. May become the first .500 team to miss the playoffs. Win they'll savour - They always revel in the Labour day win, and the scale of the BC beatdown was impressive, but the upset in Edmonton was the one that got the pundits on board with all the "second best team in the league right now!" talk and made them believe their own hype. [Seems kind of distant in light of the Banjo Bowl result]. Loss they'll lament - The players and fans will hate losing the inaugural home game to the Bombers and the way it happened (blow a big lead, claw back to tie it, clang a chip shot FG off the post to hand the OT victory and lose on shoddy kicking on consecutive weeks), but I suspect the coaches will hate the loss a week earlier in Montreal more, given how poorly they played against a poorly playing much inferior opponent, and gassing a makeable game-ending FG to gift wrap 2 points to an eastern team. They make the playoffs - If they win the season series against Winnipeg (Ok, pretend I wrote this before the Banjo Bowl, reality after week 12 is that they are in a 3 way scrap for the last 2 spots) and Edmonton (home game in the final week could be huge for both teams) like they did against BC, they take care of business in a East-heavy second half schedule, and they avoid more key injuries than the Esks and Lions . They won't - because the West isn't allowed to put all 5 teams in the playoffs, and they have an extra game against the Stamps this year. Looking forward - After the Banjo Bowl, 5 of their final 8 games are against the East, so if they can maintain the Western trend of dominance, they could pile up double digits in wins. Might still not be enough, though. Their saving grace could be the season series tiebreaker over BC. Hamilton: What I said then - "Weaker than the Grey Cup caliber team of 3-4 years ago, but still the best of a soft division, and if Collaros can shake off his injury demons, he and Austin should lead the Ticats to a comfortable 1st place division finish. Just curious, without looking can anyone actually name the back-up QB in Steeltown if (when?) Zach goes down? (looked it up - I guess Masoli is still there, with Logan Kilgore as #3). 11-7. (9 of those wins against the East)" How did I do? - So, how about those Bombers, eh? Wow, totally missed the boat on this one. Collaros is a shell of his former, pre-injury self, and clearly has no faith in the line in front of him. Austin's demeanour went from grumpy to resigned, before he actually resigned. So they won't make 11-7, and their off-field antics turned this into a train wreck of a year, and yet......(see Looking Forward) Loss they'll lament - So many to choose from, but the 60-1 Calgary embarrassment really established just how much this team quit. Win they'll savour - Not that it was a good victory, but since there was no other choice, Labour day against Toronto (again, pretend I wrote this before Saturday's Ottawa game - that certainly changes the outlook for this team). They'll make the playoffs - Because the coaching and QB changes give them a lift, the East is so bad that no one is really out of it, and they have 5 eastern games left in their last 9 (more than any of their eastern opponents) They won't - Because third place won't be good enough in the East to make the playoffs, and unlike the RedBlacks, they did not handle a very tough first half West-heavy schedule and show any resiliency, and rolled over and died in week 6 and won't have any fight left (not sure if the last 2 weeks is a mirage or if they still have some fight). Looking forward - If they can sweep their remaining Eastern games they will have 7 wins this year and would own the season series against all other teams in the East. Could this team still finish in top spot in the East and somewhat restore my pre-season prediction of their success?

The worst ever was a Bomber game in Calgary where the Stamps kept sending in an offensive lineman as an extra receiver, and the rule at the time was that you had to declare yourself eligible and the refs had to announce it to the crowd, to avoid the trick play catching the other team off guard. Proulx said about six times "Calgary number sixty-tree is declared as illegible for dis play". It got so bad Bob Irving said "Poor Andre Proulx. They really need to change this rule so the refs don't announce it. This is getting hard to listen to".

Best opening line of an Odds and Sods ever!

The good news for the Bombers if Tate is still QB is that we will have had a couple of weeks' worth of tape on him. Too many times a new QB comes in and catches the other team off guard since he wasn't the one they scouted.

Well friends, it was another glorious late summer day here in Manitoba, and everyone was excited for the re-match between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and our own Winnipeg Blue Bombers. And everyone was curious to see how the Bombers would bounce back from that defeat last week in the annual Labour day classic. And everyone wanted to see how loud the fans could be, and if they could surpass the noise last week. And we even had a moose sighting today, which held things up a bit. So we certainly had a lot of excitement even before the opening kickoff. But once the game started the two teams got down to business and traded blows before the Bombers pulled away in the second half, or just before the second half, in fact, before a packed house, who all will be seen in a magnificent panoramic photo I'm told, to preserve this moment for posterity. In any event, the Bombers came out on top to maintain their grip on the second place position in the always tough Western division. And there were many outstanding moments and performances in this game, to be sure. You had Clarence Denmark making a couple of big catches for touchdowns, one in each end zone so all the fans could see him up close. And then there was Matt Nicholls throwing for 3 touchdowns, and scampering for 41 yards on a quarterback run, although his coach may not like him going head first into that defender rather than slide, and we'll pretend like we didn't notice that fumble at the end. But then we had Chris Randle, getting the ball right back after that play with an interception that salted the game away, certainly Happy Honker worthy. And Andrew Harris once again stepped up, especially in the fourth quarter with some solid running. And let's not forget Justin Medlock, who despite missing one of his two field goals, continues to be automatic on those new long converts, and added three singles on huge kickoffs and that one punt, which may or may not be a Bomber record [ED NOTE: it isn't - this went 85 yards and Bob Cameron and Jon Ryan each hit a 95 harder once in their careers). And we saw some big hits, from Brandon Alexander on Saskatchewan returner Duron Carter, and what a great effort from that linebacker Jefferson, or Jackson Jeffcoat, running down the 'Rider QB, and then missing the sack, but showing true heart and perseverance in not giving up and turning the other way with a diving show string tackle for a sack that snuffed out the last 'Rider chance to get back in the game. And I would be remiss if I did not mention Maurice Leggett, who is becoming a bit of a Happy Honker staple with another great performance today, with a pair of touchdowns including a fantastic interception over the shoulder of the Saskatchewan receiver, then fighting off tackles to take it to the house some 54 yards later in what really was the deciding moment of the game. But I'm sure Knuckles will be bringing up his name when we discuss the player of the game later so I will leave him off my list here. No, this is not the player of the game award but the Happy Honker award, who as you know, is not meant for the player of the game, but that unsung hero, that player or person who did that something a little extra special in the game. Well, we saw something special in the second quarter of today's contest. With the score tied at 7 and the Roughriders taking momentum after a long touchdown catch, the Bombers were looking to answer back. And it came in a most surprising way, so much so that the cameras and the Roughriders apparently as well did not see it. On a punt return, the ball bounced over to the far sideline near the Saskatchewan bench, but returner Kevin Fogg instead ran to the opposite side of the field to catch a punt that wasn't coming his way. For good measure, the Bomber blockers all pointed to Kevin and ran his way, with one exception. And while all the Saskatchewan players followed suit, Maurice Leggett, who I already mentioned before, ran down the ball before it went out of bounds, and after dodging one tackler who figured out the ruse a little too late, had nothing but daylight and a convoy of blockers to escort him 97 yards to the end zone for a big punt return touchdown, and a token effort at a tackle from the Saskatchewan punter did nothing to keep him from getting across that goal line . And we heard Mr. Leggett say afterwards that it wasn't planned and just a shanked punt, and head coach Mike O'Shea wouldn't tip his hand either way, but it was clear to the old observer that this play was set up by the coaching staff, and executed brilliantly, so this week's Happy Honker award goes to special teams coach Paul Boudreau, who drew up this play, and also coached and great punt cover game that kept the 'Riders pinned deep all day, and recovered both a short onside punt and onside kick which led to Bomber points, so in honour of the special teams play today, the happy honker award goes to special teams coach Paul Boudreau. Way to go, Paul! Let's hear it for him!

So what you're saying is that you went to a bar and got drunk with some flaming guy, who then mounted you and rode you like a horse for 3 days?

4 of 7 3DOWNNATION.COM writers pick the Bombers. Vegas line has the 'Riders as 2.5-3 point favorites. Have seen too many Labour Day defeats to feel confident about the Bombers. That crowd is going to be 3 times more jacked up than they were on Canada Day (I was at that one, it was as loud as almost any Bomber game), and any momentum the 'Riders get could easily carry them to a whole lot of scoring in a short time. Bombers need to sneak in, bore the crowd, and hang on for dear life when that momentum swing happens. the escape with a close victory in the last minute (FG or late Sask. drive stopped). A close Bomber victory wouldn't surprise me, a blowout win would. A close Sask. victory wouldn't surprise me, a blowout win for them would surprise me even less. Heart says Bombers, head and wallet lean to the 'Riders this week.

Only one thing could TRUMP that pair.

SHHHH! Spies abound on the internet.

In the 1988 season, the Bombers hosted Hamilton in the East division semi-final. The Bombers had finished 9-9 that year, but lost their last 3 games, and everyone figured the powerhouse Argonauts were going to wipe the floor with whomever won the semi-final, so only 12,210 showed up for that playoff game. Then the Bombers went on to upset Toronto and met BC (who upset Edmonton) in the Grey Cup - we all know what happened next. Merch sales went through the roof after the Grey Cup win, and GM Cal Murphy joked "We are going to print up t-shirts saying "I was one of the 12,210" in honour of the true fans who never gave up faith and came out and spurred us to our Grey Cup run. We plan to sell 50,000 of them." They in fact did sell those t-shirts, and I'm pretty sure they sold more than 12,210 of them. FYI, whenever the debate about who on this board is or is not a true fan starts up, and people point to: - how loud you are at games -how much beer you consume -how many jerseys you own -what price point you buy tickets at -whether or not you are "positive" enough on the fan boards -whether you truly believe they will win every game among other reasons as the criteria to determine "true fandom", just know that every one of those reasons is no basis to determine the issue. FACT IS, THE ONLY CRITERIA IS "WERE YOU AT THE 12,210 GAME?" IF NOT, YOU ARE NOT A TRUE FAN. END OF STORY. I WAS THERE, AND DIDN'T NEED A T-SHIRT AFTERWARDS TO TRUMPET MY ALLEGIANCE EITHER. SUCK IT, ALL YOU POSERS WHO CLAIM TO BE REAL FANS BUT WEREN'T THERE (ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DIDN'T GO BUT BOUGHT THE T-SHIRT). :-D [Forum explodes in 3, 2, 1............]

Never ceases to amaze me when a 'Rider troll posts here, and some Bomber fans get all indignant and take the bait like:

More verbosity. Two more teams: Calgary: What I said then- "Nowhere to go but down, but dropping from the summit of Everest to base camp still has you well above the clouds most days. Not sure I buy the whole "this year is about redemption for last year's Grey Cup, so we are motivated every single time out" angle. More likely they pace themselves and give up a few more games in the regular season. 13-5 but second in the division (or 12-6, see Edmonton)" How did I do? - Still the best team in the CFL, still have competition for top spot, just not who I thought. The last couple of games reflect that"pacing themselves" attitude. Hardly overwhelming teams, but they are talented enough to get by with a pedestrian effort. On pace for another dominating regular season record, still, a West-heavy second half means that maybe the 13-5 record isn't too far-fetched. Win they'll savour - Only 3 games (and wins) against the Western teams, and neither Winnipeg nor Saskatchewan were anywhere near as good then as they are playing now, and the BC win against a struggling team wasn't that impressive from the Stamps end either, so let's go with a 60-1 pummelling as their biggest moment, even if it was the ***** Cats. [Seriously Mods? I can't type "Pu$$y" in that context??????] Loss they'll lament - Only one loss to pick from. But dropping a game to a 3-6 team is one you'd want to have back, no question. They'll make the playoffs - end of sentence. They won't - I don't know. If the Argos fold due to lack of interest, the Ticats fold because of fan backlash to their hiring practices, the Roughriders team is decimated in a plane crash (I did not write that, you did not see me write that), and the League shuts down for the year. Looking forward - Interesting that the best and the worst teams in the CFL at the halfway point are also the ones who have played the fewest games within their own division. 7 of Calgary's last 9 games are against the Esks (3, 2 of them in Edmonton), 'Riders (2, 1 in Saskatchewan), Bombers and Lions, so a much tougher schedule than the first half. Still ,the bettor's choice to be hosting a division final at home. Edmonton: What I said then - "The wildcard of the West. Are they the team that ended the season strong or the one that started off poorly? What does Ed Hervey's late firing do - eliminate or create a distraction? Is Mike Reilly ready to take a run at league MOP or is he going to become labeled "the next glass QB"? Not too sure about them, guess this is my way of saying they could challenge for 1st (more likely 2nd) or could languish back in 4th in the division with a losing record, and neither outcome would surprise me. Just have a hunch they will rebound this year and be better (if not totally reflected in their win-loss record, at least in their divisional standing) 10-8 but third (or 11-7, give them one more win and Calgary one more loss)" How did I do? - I waffled on my choice at the start, so even if they were bad, I could say I got this one right. Funny that the "glass QB" Reilly has been about the only healthy thing on this team, and he has looked dominant for most of the first half, but funny how that 7-0 start has largely been forgotten with consecutive losses and the "injuries have caught up with them" vibe. Some are noe saying they are regressing to where they always should have been, that the big win streak was a bit of a mirage. Still, unless they get swept by the Stamps again, they are set up well to finish high in the West and coast into the playoffs. Win they'll savour - The opening tilt in BC which wasn't that close, then was almost given away, but snatched right back set the Esks on their path to 7 straight. Loss they'll lament - The loss in Winnipeg may have burst the invincibility bubble, and is likely to have more direct impact on the season-ending standings for Edmonton, but that loss at home to the 'Riders by that score, and with that many mistakes, psychologically hurts more, I would think. They'll make the playoffs - because there is a crossover and they have enough of a cushion built up from that 7 game winning streak, and the season series victory over BC, to get in without too much worry. They won't - if 2 losses in a row becomes 4 after Calgary, and the snowball starts rolling beyond that. Looking forward - Not sure where the soft spot is the the schedule in the second half. 3 vs the Stamps, 2 against Ray, Trestman and the Argos, the red-hot Bombers, Lions get one more shot against them in the Den, in a loud Mosaic against the team that just whipped them, and the Als in Sin City north. Same questions about which team will show up as I had at the start of the year.

Dante Alighieri — ‘The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.’

Very true. Feoli-Gudino would be a "happy honkeresque" player in Cactus' (Cacti?) eyes. Not flashy, just dependable, with a knack for the odd big play but forgotten amongst the stars.