Damn it! I knew bringing in Robert Byrd to close the game was a mistake.

Republicans sent Nevada Senator John Ensign to the mound. Ensign is apparently even worse at pitching than he is at fundraising. After four walks (!) and an infield single, Democrats had cut the lead to 8-6 and the GOP sent its starting pitcher, Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, back into the game

WTF, you can't do that! Lousy cheating bums!

tallguywithglasseson: WTF, you can't do that! Lousy cheating bums!

To be fair, it's not as bad as that time they sent G. Gordon Liddy into the center field stands with a pair of binoculars to steal signs.

Jim Bunting didn't play? Why?

what_now: Jim Bunting didn't play? Why?

He's currently falling through a trans-dimensional space warp.

Cagey B: To be fair, it's not as bad as that time they sent G. Gordon Liddy into the center field stands with a pair of binoculars to steal signs.

nice

tallguywithglasseson: Republicans sent Nevada Senator John Ensign to the mound. Ensign is apparently even worse at pitching than he is at fundraising. After four walks (!) and an infield single, Democrats had cut the lead to 8-6 and the GOP sent its starting pitcher, Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, back into the game

Typical Republicans! Cheating at America's Game! If they have so little respect for baseball, then I'm assuming they feel the same way about Mom, apple pie, and the United States of America.

santorum's vaseline ball is damn near unhittable.

The big question was whether Larry Craig was going to pitch or catch.

thomps: damn near unhittable.

Who would want to?

/frothy mixture

On checking LexisNexis, the CBG is hardcore

"Rep. Jim Marshall (Ga.), who contributed to the most hilarious of the defensive miscues last year when he collided with Rep. Anthony Weiner (N.Y.) while chasing a pop fly, resulting in a Weiner faceplant into the RFK turf and ensuing shiner" - Roll Call, 6/11/08

"Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) took over the title of "most badly injured" this year, as he had to leave the game after hurting his knee in the sixth inning." - Roll Call, 6/27/05

"Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, underwent surgery this week to repair a
ruptured ligament in an elbow he injured while playing in last
month's Congressional baseball game." - Press Enterprise, 7/6/01

"In the 1996 game, Holden broke his nose, jaw and cheekbone in a collision with Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.)." - Roll Call, 7/14/03

Just so you all know, this is a CHARITY GAME.. and players are breaking jaws and having to get surgeries from Frank Jobe.

dna_level_c: Who would want to?



"certainly not me."

OttoDog: The big question was whether Larry Craig was going to pitch or catch.

Catch. He has a wide stance that he uses to squat while catching.

I find it hard to picture a baseball game when one team stays in right field and the other stays in left field...

Poor Max Cleland always used to get picked last.

Also from the history of the Congressional Baseball game

"1979: Dems 7, GOP 3. (..) Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) hits two-run homer."

Good thing Murphy made the error, or else the lack of Ron Paul's firepower would have doomed the Republicans.

RobbieFal: "1979: Dems 7, GOP 3. (..) Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) hits two-run homer."



In his fabulous 1970s Houston Astros uniform.

Let's try that instead.

Holy crap.. where the hell did you find that?

RobbieFal: Holy crap.. where the hell did you find that?

I saw it some time back during the campaign. It was hard to find now, though.

From the late 1970s, when he was first in Congress.

tallguywithglasseson: Republicans sent Nevada Senator John Ensign to the mound. Ensign is apparently even worse at pitching than he is at fundraising. After four walks (!) and an infield single, Democrats had cut the lead to 8-6 and the GOP sent its starting pitcher, Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, back into the game

WTF, you can't do that! Lousy cheating bums!

That's not true in all leagues (certainly it is true for most PROFESSIONAL baseball). It varies with the rules of the sanctioning committee that is sanctioning the game as to whether or not you can bring players back into a game.

Most informal games are played with rules allowing for the type of substitution made by the Republican team.

tallguywithglasseson: Republicans sent Nevada Senator John Ensign to the mound. Ensign is apparently even worse at pitching than he is at fundraising. After four walks (!) and an infield single, Democrats had cut the lead to 8-6 and the GOP sent its starting pitcher, Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, back into the game

WTF, you can't do that! Lousy cheating bums!

Its softball, you can sub a player back in.

Well, certain Republicans do have a lot of experience manhandling bats, if you catch my drift.

You know.

Penis.

It's not really softball

AP, 8/3/1994

Oxley's arm was fractured just above the wrist in a first-base collision with Rep. Sherrod Brown Tuesday night during the annual congressional baseball game.

(..)

Brown, D-Ohio, said he felt bad about the injury to Oxley, who was playing first base and waiting for the throw when Brown ran chest-first into his glove.

(wait, do I have to pay the AP now?)

Churchill2004: RobbieFal: "1979: Dems 7, GOP 3. (..) Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) hits two-run homer."

In his fabulous 1970s Houston Astros uniform.

Wait. Are you saying Ron Paul made an ultimately meaningless contribution in a year dominated by Democrats?

And that he hit a two-run homer in a 1979 softball game?

Churchill2004: Let's try that instead.

That's awesome. Now I have to go find a 70's-era Houston jersey and put Ron Paul's name and the number one on the back. The perfect gift for my buddy with the poli. sci. degree. Who loves baseball and hates Ron Paul.

Maybe I read this wrong, but how can a throw to first base end up in RIGHT FIELD?

Goodness.

proof again we'll never have a third party

tallguywithglasseson: Republicans sent Nevada Senator John Ensign to the mound. Ensign is apparently even worse at pitching than he is at fundraising. After four walks (!) and an infield single, Democrats had cut the lead to 8-6 and the GOP sent its starting pitcher, Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, back into the game

WTF, you can't do that! Lousy cheating bums!

Well, to be honest, the Dems did it too. They put Baca back in when Sestak couldn't throw strikes. Plus the Dems got called for a balk when they faked a pitch and the shortstop kept the ball. It was really dumb of them to put the runner on third like they did.

And the game was awesome. I've never seen it that close.

What do you expect when the Republicans can pull out Larry Craig. Heard he is an expert at pitching and catching.

Softball game, huh? That's about all the GOP can win against the Dems. They can't play hardball without folding like a cheap tent.

whizbangthedirtfarmer: Maybe I read this wrong, but how can a throw to first base end up in RIGHT FIELD?

Goodness.

ummmm...

yeah. perhaps because...

/never mind
//first-baseman

BlameBush: Softball game, huh? That's about all the GOP can win against the Dems.

I'm surprised the Dems' practice at softball from all their media interviews didn't pay off more.