This isn't funny...but
In the interest of not invoking some kind of unpleasant karmic payback, I have made it a point throughout my life not to take pleasure in the misfortune of others -- except the Yankees and Red Sox, of course. But I'm going to have to make an exception for this article about several members of a Japanese pro baseball team who have contracted the Swine flu.
Of course, that's not funny, but when the team that was struck by the nasty virus is the Nippon Ham Fighters, well, what's a fun-loving blogger supposed to do?
There's a semi-local angle, too. One of the players who has tested positive for the virus is former major leaguer Terrmel Sledge, who played for the Washington Nationals in 2005.
By the way, when you refer to the Nippon Ham Fighters by their nickname, they are not the "Ham Fighters" -- though that certainly has a nice ring to it. They are just the "Fighters." Nippon Ham is the company that owns the team, which usually is a cool marketing tool, but I can't imagine a swine flu outbreak -- even in a well-detached subsidiary -- is great for business.






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Comments
fire trembley
Posted by: Anonymous | August 20, 2009 12:25 PM
Isn't this where Anonymous comes in and says, "Fire Trembley?"
I still like the sign from one thoughtful Orioles fan a few years back on the day after Ripken was lifted for a pinch-runner, and the game lingered on for another six or seven innings -- "Mad Cal Disease"
Now that was funny.
Not sure if the Milk Minders Association liked it much.
Posted by: waspman | August 20, 2009 12:32 PM
He beat me to it! Hahahaha
Posted by: waspman | August 20, 2009 12:34 PM
Pete,
What is your review of the Orioles 2010 pet calendar?
Were you upset Angelos wasn’t in it or your boy mike Flanagan?
Posted by: Centreville Frank | August 20, 2009 12:36 PM
fire anonymous
Posted by: Edd | August 20, 2009 12:38 PM
I do not frequent the baltimore sun as often. Not only have I thrown in the towel, but I just stopped caring. Maybe it's the fact the NFL season is fast approaching, which each year seems to be the panacea for all Orioles fans.
And the misery for O's fans will continue next year (another 100 loss season). Oh well.
Posted by: O's fan in Milwaukee | August 20, 2009 12:38 PM
Pete,
Do you feel any pain during the process of selling your soul to PA?
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I wouldn't know, but It probably feels the same way it does when you look in the mirror and realize you don't even have the guts to stand behind your anonymous comment.
Posted by: Don | August 20, 2009 12:39 PM
Fire Anonymous!
Posted by: Dave Trembley | August 20, 2009 12:43 PM
O's fan in Milwaukee
Are you just mad at Pete and bloggers for talking about your hero Brett on here?? Well hes going to beat your pack 2 times this season hahahahahah
Posted by: BF is going to get hurt | August 20, 2009 12:51 PM
Is it just me or are we continuing to see a pattern here with Luke Scott playing 1st. Even if this project is only a week of evaluation we have rookies that know 1st as a natural position. So once again we are blocking the teams evolution by vets taking time like Millar, Payton etc.
Posted by: TED | August 20, 2009 12:56 PM
The Ham Fighters getting swine flu? That's kind of like...
-An avian flue outbreak on the Orioles.
-An athlete's foot outbreak on the Red Sox
-The Astros' clubhouse being struck by a meteor
-Bernie Brewer being cited for DUI
-The DBacks' stadium becoming infested with rattlesnakes
Something I'd like to see. The City of Philadelphia painting all the fire hydrants in Eagles' colors and the number 7. It would give all the dogs a chance to "vent."
Posted by: Chris Joseph | August 20, 2009 12:58 PM
PS
Personally I want to see the rookies get a chance at 1st to get an idea if they can do it or if we need a FA replacement then we can address the situation at 3rd base with more certainty.
Posted by: TED | August 20, 2009 12:58 PM
Fire Lassie!
Posted by: Michael Vick | August 20, 2009 1:04 PM
Fire Trembley guy: Your getting old. You want attention come out of your moms basement!
Posted by: cb coach | August 20, 2009 1:07 PM
Fire Michael Vick!
Posted by: PETA Schmuck | August 20, 2009 1:09 PM
Mike Vick is more loved in the sports world than Peter Angelos. Yes what Vick did was horrible but Angelos tortures thousands of humans with MASN and the orioles.
Posted by: Wayne | August 20, 2009 1:17 PM
cb coach,
I sneak out your mother’s basement every morning :)
Posted by: Anonymous | August 20, 2009 1:21 PM
If the Japanese League expands, they could add the Orioles and maybe we could finally get into the playoffs.
It would be our luck that the Japanese League would go to the balanced schedule. The Orioles would be in the same Division as the Yomuri giants and the Chunichi Dragons, who are playing .635 and .610 Baseball respectively.
Rast prace again. Sorry, I couldn't help it.
Posted by: Gil Jr | August 20, 2009 1:21 PM
Gil
Orioles should be demoted to minor league or overseas baseball. It might finally motivate Angelos to spend some coin. There has to be some kind of system in place to force owners to do the right thing and not make stupid decisions that compromise the team.
Posted by: Wayne | August 20, 2009 1:24 PM
Anonymous,
That would be a tough thing considering my mom just passed away last week. Jerk.
Posted by: cb coach | August 20, 2009 1:29 PM
Have we done anything really well this year? Why yes, we've reduced payroll, not just this year but quite a bit in the future. We're headed for number one again, in earnings. Winning? Thats secondary. The Orioles, run to make Angelos richer.
Posted by: Dave | August 20, 2009 1:32 PM
cb coach
How do you know that my Mother isn’t passed away also? You opened the mom insult window and this is a blog if you insult people on it you have to know retaliation is coming.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 20, 2009 1:37 PM
Well, the O's are ahead of schedule in one department... The September Swoon arrived in early July!
I am still, and will always be a fan, but damn it's annoying. 3-20 in AL East road games? It's more than a lack of talent - it's definitely in the players' heads now...
Posted by: OforPetesSake | August 20, 2009 1:40 PM
thats quite clever, Chris Joseph.
And Ted, I agree with you. One certainly wonders just how many at bats this Michael Aubrey guy will get.
Posted by: onceawarrior | August 20, 2009 1:41 PM
Everyday people come on here and tell everybody who will listen how good the orioles are going to be.This isn't based on performance because this years team could be the worse team in the last 11 years, it's based on a plan, a plan that everybody has put there entire faith in. Don't get me wrong it's nice top have a plan and goals in your life to meet. We don't always meet our goals but if we didn't have anything we won't have anything to look forward to. I am assuming that there are some intelligent and succesful people that post to this blog and while it's nice to have faith in something it's also good to base your faith on something other then what if's and that is all this plan is full of what if's. Please do me a favor and take a look at the standings, what you will see is Tampa bay in 3rd place with a 546 winning percentage. That winning percentage would put them in first place in the Central divison in the american league and they would be i game out in the central divison in the national league. Outside of the west in the american league they would be in serious contention in every other divison in baseball. But like the orioles they happen to play in the best divison in baseball and are 9 1/2 games back of the yeankee's who have the best record in all of baseball. Some might say that the yankee's haven't won a world series in a while but that odesn't mean that they still don't always finish at least 20 to 25 games over 500 every year. While you pour your heart and soul into rooting for the home team you can't possible believe that this team can compete in this divison. Even if the so called plan works to some degree they will never be able to spend the amount of money or attract top tier free agents like boston and the yankee's. The orioles have played 120 games to date and even if they played 500 ball they would still be 15 games behind the yankee's in the loss column and 9 games behind boston. We aren't even in the same time zone as those 2 teams and for all of you to pour your hearts out hoping that this will work are completely in denial. Please just review the current facts and stop putting all your faith into something that might not even work.
Posted by: blancione | August 20, 2009 2:00 PM
Fire Anonymous
Posted by: The Unknown Comic | August 20, 2009 2:04 PM
blancione
1st run the spell check before you post
2nd I am critical of the plan also but don’t make excuses about the AL East being hard. If the Rays can do it so can the Orioles. The problem is not totally AM even though hes a dinosaur it is Angelos. Baseball has a system where teams can compete if they try hard look at the current standings. Minnesota, Texas, Tampa are in the hunt. Look at the White Sox this season they went after Peavy and Rios and they could get in. They have one of the best managers in the game say what you want about Ozzie but hes the tough mother you need in your corner hes a modern day Earl. For years though the Sox were mismanaged and at times would start fire sales even when they were 3 games behind. The White Sox are a perfect example of what the O’s need to strive for.
Posted by: Wayne | August 20, 2009 2:12 PM
Ha ha heck no I am not a Packers fan! Think about it, I am an Orioles fan living outside of Baltimore. . .
I am actually a diehard Seahawks fan. They will definitely not be the Orioles of the NFL this year.
Posted by: O's fan in Milwaukee | August 20, 2009 2:22 PM
Pete,
Spent a while in Japan, and went to see many Fighters games as I ended up meeting the manager, now Kansas City's Trey Hillman.
Yes, the irony of the Nippon Ham Fighters players contracting swine flu is an easy one. I just hope nobody gets seriously ill and you end up having some 'splainin' to do, Lucy.
Posted by: Chris | August 20, 2009 2:27 PM
O's fan in Milwaukee
They were last year!
W L T PF PA
2008 4 12 0 294 392
Better hope Mora can pull it off and Seneca Wallace doesnt have to play LOL
Posted by: BF is going to get hurt | August 20, 2009 2:31 PM
Anonymous,
Why don't you just use a name that all of us can associate you with. You are not funny or nor do you add anything of substance by going to every blog and say fire trembley.
Add something of substance say things like " I think there are better managers that are available to coach the Orioles. Wouldn't it be nice to have ___________ manage this club. Or I noticed that there are a lot of front line starters available next year. I hope the Orioles sign ________. Or compliment some of the current goings on.
And I did not insult your mother. I said live in her basement. That could be dead or alive. The insult was about you not your mom, grow up man.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 20, 2009 3:09 PM
Ahhh blancione,
Hypocritical as always today.
Posted by: James C | August 20, 2009 4:24 PM
What is funny is today's lineup. An absolute joke.
Posted by: Chuck in Hawaii | August 20, 2009 4:45 PM
Hey Blancione.....there was once a time that the Yankees and Red Sox sucked and the Orioles were being chased.
It is certainly possible for the Orioles to regain greatness....just like the Yankees did, and the Dodgers, and the Lakers,and the Celtics, and the Ravens, and so forth and so on.
You need people with vision and a plan.....you need leadership.....you need better players....and you need some luck. But generally good preparation leads you to luck.
As i have said before, the past leadership regime has crippled this team.Just because you were a good left handed pitcher, doesnt make you GM material. We need to spend smart money, and hire people with proven track records to coach and manage.
Dave Trembley might be a wonderful human being, but i don't want him as my leader. Get some professionals in here....and i dont mean Dave Johnson.
Posted by: Bo n Crabs | August 20, 2009 7:21 PM
Aren't we ALL sort of Anonymous?
Posted by: Beerman Cold Beer | August 21, 2009 4:27 AM
Nice game against Whitw Sox and way to go BRob;but what a great job by Chris Rey super
Posted by: lee | August 22, 2009 7:41 AM