Baseball Toaster: The Griddle : The stuff that bothers me

Rank	Team	W	L	PCT	Division
1	Chicago Cubs	97	64	.602	C1
2	Philadelphia	92	70	.568	E1
3	Los Angeles Dodgers	84	78	.519	W1
4	Milwaukee	90	72	.556	C2
5	New York Mets	89	73	.549	E2
6	Houston	86	75	.534	C3
7	St. Louis	86	76	.531	C4
8	Florida	84	77	.522	E3
9	Arizona	82	80	.506	W2
10T	Colorado	74	88	.457	W3
10T	Cincinnati	74	88	.457	C5
12T	Atlanta	72	90	.444	E4
12T	San Francisco	72	90	.444	W4
14	Pittsburgh	67	95	.414	C6
15	San Diego	63	99	.389	W5
16	Washington	59	102	.366	E5

American League

Rank	Team	W	L	PCT	Division
1	Los Angeles Angels	100	62	.617	W1
2	Tampa Bay	97	65	.599	E1
3	Chicago White Sox	89	74	.546	C1
4	Boston	95	67	.586	E2
5	New York Yankees	89	73	.549	E3
6	Minnesota	88	75	.540	C2
7	Toronto	86	76	.531	E4
8	Cleveland	81	81	.500	C3
9	Texas	79	83	.488	W2
10	Oakland	75	86	.466	W3
11	Kansas City	75	87	.463	C4
12	Detroit	74	88	.457	C5
13	Baltimore	68	93	.422	E5
14	Seattle	61	101	.377	W4

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New York

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Yankees 89 73

Mets 89 73

Baltimore/DC

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Nationals 59 102 9

Chicago

W L GB

X - Cubs 97 64

White Sox 89 74 9

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Dodgers 84 78 16

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So long and thanks for playing this year

1. Washington (8/31)
2. Seattle (9/1)
3. Pittsburgh (9/6) *
3. San Diego (9/6) *
5. Baltimore (9/8)
6. Oakland (9/8)
7. Atlanta (9/9)
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11. Detroit (9/15)
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13. Colorado (9/18)
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16. New York Yankees (9/23)
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21. New York Mets (9/28)
22. Minnesota (9/30)
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24. Milwaukee (10/5)
25. Chicago White Sox (10/6)
26. Los Angeles Angels (10/6)
27. Los Angeles Dodgers (10/15)
28. Boston (10/19)
29. Tampa Bay (10/29)

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The last batter to reach on catcher's interference was ...

Seth McClung of Milwaukee by Koyie Hill of the Cubs on September 26, 2008.

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The stuff that bothers me

2008-05-26 21:09

by Bob Timmermann

From the AP recap of Tampa Bay's 7-3 win over Texas:

Tampa Bay is just the second team—joining the 1903 New York Giants—to have the best mark on Memorial Day after finishing with the worst record in the big leagues the previous season (66-96).

Today is indeed Memorial Day and the Rays do indeed have the best record in the majors at 31-20.

However, in 1903, Memorial Day was on May 30. The idea of moving holidays around to give people a three-day weekend likely hadn't been considered by anybody. Significant portions of the population had to work six days a week anyway.

And on May 30, 1903, which was Memorial Day, the best record in the majors belonged to the Chicago Cubs who were 27-11, one game better than the Giants who were 25-11.

If Memorial Day in 1903 had been moved to a Monday, the Giants still wouldn't have had the best record. The Cubs still did. However, on Tuesday, May 26, the Giants had the best record, although they were actually 1/2 game behind the Cubs in the standings.

Memorial Day wasn't moved to a Monday until 1968 and there is a group that wants the day moved back to May 30 to give the day more reverance as Veterans Day has. Veterans Day was celebrated on the final Monday in October for a few years in the 1970s until veterans groups complained about it.

(The St. Petersburg Times story and the MLB.com story DID NOT make the same mistake.)

Comments

2008-05-26 23:05:33

1. Xeifrank

Go Tampa Bay and your 150:1 odds to win the W.S.
vr, Xei

2008-05-26 23:20:47

2. Linkmeister

This is one of those things where you can say "I blame Richard Nixon" and be absolutely accurate and devoid of irony.

2008-05-26 23:53:16

3. 68elcamino427

a group that wants the day moved back to May 30
This is a great link Bob. Too many people do not understand what Memorial Day is all about.
So many have sacrificed everything so that we may be free.
Memorial Day is a day to simply say to those that died, Thank You for paying for the freedom that I enjoy today, with your life.

2008-05-26 23:58:14

4. Bob Timmermann

2
Actually, Johnson signed the law into effect.

2008-05-27 00:14:17

5. Andrew Shimmin

I blame Gary Bennett!

2008-05-27 01:45:23

6. Eric Enders

I think we should take it a step further and go back to calling it by its real name, Decoration Day.

And the one in November, Armistice Day.

2008-05-27 07:33:50

7. chris in illinois

I understand why someone might object to shuffling holidays all over the calendar, but how is the Rays achievement less impressive because congress moved the date some 40 years ago??

Maybe I'm missing the point here but the Rays have the best record after 51 games, whereas the two examples you mentioned hadn't cracked 40 yet.

Memorial Day and Veterans Day IMO aren't as revered as they once were simply because most Americans haven't ever lost a family member while in the service. That wasn't true in the 50's as most people had a father or a son or a cousin or an uncle who died in WWII. These days seem to me to be very personal in nature----we can honor those who have served, but I can't imagine it's the same as remembering a son or a father who died in the service of the country.

I for one am glad most of us have no personal connection to Memorial Day.

Peace.

2008-05-27 12:06:12

8. Sandus

I wonder if there is a group trying to get Christmas moved back to April.