This...this has to stop.

[pravata]

A toy horse on a stick.  And it could get ugly.

"Los Caballitos" , El Kabong's groupies who hang out by the Pump, presented him with a toy horse on a stick before last nights game.

Footer continues, "Los Caballitos instructed El Caballo to ride the horse every time he hits a home run. True to his word, Lee giddy-upped in the dugout following his two-run blast in the fourth frame,..."They told me if I hit a homer, I would have to ride it," Lee said. "I promised them I would. I did."

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070417&content_id=1914859&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

Every time!  This does not look good.  As Roy says, "That," ... "Is a big man on a horse."

[BudGirl]

A toy horse on a stick.  And it could get ugly.

"Los Caballitos" , El Kabong's groupies who hang out by the Pump, presented him with a toy horse on a stick before last nights game.

Footer continues, "Los Caballitos instructed El Caballo to ride the horse every time he hits a home run. True to his word, Lee giddy-upped in the dugout following his two-run blast in the fourth frame,..."They told me if I hit a homer, I would have to ride it," Lee said. "I promised them I would. I did."

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070417&content_id=1914859&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

Every time!  This does not look good.  As Roy says, "That," ... "Is a big man on a horse."

I thought it was kind of funny.  It will get old after a while though.

[Limey]

I thought it was kind of funny.  It will get old after a while though.

Once was funny...

[Holly]

Beat me to it! Giddyup, indeed - I wonder if there was a titanium-reinforced rod down the spine of that horse (or was it a model Clydesdale?). Stupid CPA exam is preventing me from seeing the more entertaining moments in baseball lately.

Thanks for the link, prav.

[JimR]

I thought it was kind of funny.  It will get old after a while though.

not if he does it 40 or 50 times, it won't.

[Alkie]

Stupid CPA exam is preventing me from seeing the more entertaining moments in baseball lately.

Well, hurry up and pass the damn thing so you can drink away all the "knowledge", like I did.

[Alkie]

not if he does it 40 or 50 times, it won't.

See, that's what I was thinking.  I hope to see a man about a horse at least 40 more times before November.

[Limey]

not if he does it 40 or 50 times, it won't.

I was talking to a Braves fan yesterday (he was buying lunch, so I was obligated to converse).  He poo-pooed Flapjack's contribution thus far because "really it's only been one good game".  I just chuckled.

[Holly]

Well, hurry up and pass the damn thing so you can drink away all the "knowledge", like I did.

Two down, two to go, including BEC on Tuesday... and don't think I haven't thought about drinking it away, immediately after I get that last letter! More than likely, I'll just have to bask in the glow of the assurance partner's email of congratulations.

Agreed with Jim, btw... won't get old if it happens 40 or 50 times.

Don't change horses in the middle of the stream...

[pravata]

I was talking to a Braves fan yesterday (he was buying lunch, so I was obligated to converse).  He poo-pooed Flapjack's contribution thus far because "really it's only been one good game".  I just chuckled.

Lee leads the NL in RBI.

[Andyzipp]

I can't wait...by September, provided the Astros are in this thing, the first 30,000 paying customers will receive their own stick horses (sponsored by Gallery Furniture), a home run ball will be hit into the Crawfish Boxes and several people will be sporting both wood and stick horse inflicted wounds.

Making bat day in the Bronx seem tame by comparison.

[Fredia]

last night on the game it was mentioned that some one (help me gang) had called him 7-11 because his mouth was open . then jd (i think) talked about how nice it was going to be to have someone fun on the team after the horse ride. just hope the whole stick horse thing does not get blown out of proportion.

[UnholyToledo]

When asked if the horse would make road trips:

"He's a home horse. He has to stay at home," Lee joked. "You can't bring a horse on the road -- too much maintenance."

That kind of made me chuckle.

[BudGirl]

It doesn't bother me and I'm not worried if it bothers you all now or after 40 home runs.  After all, if someone is going to have to complain about something after Carlos Lee hits ~40 homeruns, then let it be a stick horse.

The guys on the team were laughing about it.  The bench was happy.  I think when the guys are happy they are playing well.  

[Andyzipp]

It doesn't bother me and I'm not worried if it bothers you all now or after 40 home runs.  After all, if someone is going to have to complain about something after Carlos Lee hits ~40 homeruns, then let it be a stick horse.

The guys on the team were laughing about it.  The bench was happy.  I think when the guys are happy they are playing well.  

Or pissed off.  Guys can play well if they're pissed off.
Or indifferent.  Guys can play well if they're indifferent.

[pravata]

When asked if the horse would make road trips:

"He's a home horse. He has to stay at home," Lee joked. "You can't bring a horse on the road -- too much maintenance."

That kind of made me chuckle.

Carlos Lee

[Limey]

I think when the guys are happy they are playing well. 

I think the board is happy they are playing well, too.

[drew corleone]

I missed this. Any YouTube footage?

[Limey]

I missed this. Any YouTube footage?

You heartless bastard!

[JackAstro]

I'm going on the record right now as being pro-fat-guy-on-a-stick-horse.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

I'm going to interpret this as proof that every other Astros fan is happy about having Carlos Lee on the team.  Could you imagine this team without him and Berkman in his current lull?  Even better, I can't wait to see Berkman come out of this malaise, and watch both of these guys put the fear of god into pitchers.

[UnholyToledo]

Agreed with Jim, btw... won't get old if it happens 40 or 50 times.

The poor thing's back will give out eventually...I trust someone in the dugout will do the humane thing, when the time comes.

[Bench]

and several people will be sporting both wood and stick horse inflicted wounds.

Wounds inflicted by sporting wood and sticking horses? Sounds like another Tuesday night in College Station.

[pravata]

The poor thing's back will give out eventually...I trust someone in the dugout will do the humane thing, when the time comes.

This is where the team really misses Bagwell.  Or Jeff Kent.  Jeff Kent watching Carlos Lee riding a stick horse.  It would never happen.

[Outlawscotty]

No, he'd rather watch Bonds ride a needle.....

[remy]

It was cute, but I do hope it was just a one-time shenanigan.  That would get annoying as fuck really fast.  Not to mention the fact that it might light a fire under the opposition.

[pravata]

No, he'd rather watch Bonds ride a needle.....

excellent, my ignore list is not near long enough, goodbye.

[Mr. Happy]

I'm going on the record right now as being pro-fat-guy-on-a-stick-horse.

Me too.

[Craig]

I didn't see the horse-thing live because of the goddamn blackout rule. But how is this not showing up the pitcher? If he does it much more, he's liable to get the next pitch in his ear.

[Kevin]

I'm going on the record right now as being pro-fat-guy-on-a-stick-horse.

I will go one further and say this is the greatest thing ever. Makes you wonder, What Would Jeff Bagwell Mutter (WWJBM)?

[Limey]

I didn't see the horse-thing live because of the goddamn blackout rule. But how is this not showing up the pitcher? If he does it much more, he's liable to get the next pitch in his ear.

It was in the dugout, so is it that different from all the congratulatory routines ummm routinely performed in the dugout after a score?  It's not like he came out of the dugout and showed his arse (see Sanders, Reggie).

[Mr. Happy]

I didn't see the horse-thing live because of the goddamn blackout rule. But how is this not showing up the pitcher? If he does it much more, he's liable to get the next pitch in his ear.

Or the next hitter will get it.

[Lefty]

Makes you wonder, What Would Jeff Bagwell Mutter (WWJBM)?

Nontraveling stickhorseshit show

[Ty in Tampa]

Nontraveling stickhorseshit show

HOF

[Kevin]

HOF

Ditto.

[JackAstro]

Nontraveling stickhorseshit show

Man, you got all of that one. Go ahead, ride the horsie, you've earned it.

[pravata]

Man, you got all of that one. Go ahead, ride the horsie, you've earned it.

Anyone imagining the machine that is right this second stamping out foam rubber stick horses? We can wave them tomahawk style.  And whinny. 

[Ty in Tampa]

Anyone imagining the machine that is right this second stamping out foam rubber stick horses? We can wave them tomahawk style.  And whinny. 

You can't stop the train, man. You just can't.

[pravata]

You can't stop the train, man. You just can't.

You're just guessing at this point.  You don't know.  If I lay down in front of it my mangled bones just might get caught up in the spokes of the wheels.

[mihoba]

You're just guessing at this point.  You don't know.  If I lay down in front of it my mangled bones just might get caught up in the spokes of the wheels.

Kinda like your legendary "slide" into third base during the TZ softball "event."

[pravata]

Kinda like your legendary "slide" into third base during the TZ softball "event."

Just 3d?  How about sliding into short?

[Lefty]

Anyone imagining the machine that is right this second stamping out foam rubber stick horses? We can wave them tomahawk style.  And whinny. 

You would have to incorporate some sort of video so the fans know what to do, like the rally monkey on a stickhorse.

[mihoba]

Just 3d?  How about sliding into short?

I must have been hugging the keg and missed that one.

[das]

Man, you got all of that one. Go ahead, ride the horsie, you've earned it.

It took a while but the TZ is rounding into mid-season form.

[homer]

Anyone imagining the machine that is right this second stamping out foam rubber stick horses? We can wave them tomahawk style.  And whinny. 

Before that will be the video on the scoreboard. Maybe the Hummer race turns into a stickhorse race. Maybe they have a contest between innings where kids race on their stick horses.

[geezerdonk]

As long as he is hitting home runs he can ride the motherfucker around the base paths backwards for all I care.

[pravata]

Before that will be the video on the scoreboard. Maybe the Hummer race turns into a stickhorse race. Maybe they have a contest between innings where kids race on their stick horses.

Ya'll are killing me.

[Anit]

again..if this pops up anywhere on the interweb, someone please post a link..i missed this

[homer]

Carlos is .163/.218/.204 since riding the horse.

[austro]

Carlos is .163/.218/.204 since riding the horse.

You read my mind. The BBGs are a stern bunch.

[Phil_in_CS]

Carlos is .163/.218/.286 since riding the horse.

Time to change your avatar! Its all your fault!!

[Lefty]

Carlos is .163/.218/.286 since riding the horse.

Or since you changed your avatar, depending on how strong your juju is.

[MusicMan]

Carlos is .163/.218/.286 since riding the horse.

Is calling him "Barbaro" until he starts hitting again in appropriately poor taste, or going too far?

[Limey]

Is calling him "Barbaro" until he starts hitting again in appropriately poor taste, or going too far?

I think you're just flogging a dead horse.

[homer]

Time to change your avatar! Its all your fault!!

Potentially. I changed it.

There is a reason why pravata is Illuminati.

[pravata]

Potentially. I changed it.

There is a reason why pravata is Illuminati.

Why? Just because I said "this has to stop" and he's never had an occasion to ride his stick horse since?  Coiincidence?

[Phil_in_CS]

Potentially. I changed it.

There is a reason why pravata is Illuminati.

If he gets some knocks tonight you need to tell him you need 20% of his one game salary for removing the curse.

[EasTexAstro]

Well, I am finally going for a change, too.

Lance listening to Bagwell for a picture with the words of wisdom from Ms. Footer.

Nothing like a swift Footer in the rear to get things moving.

[homer]

Why? Just because I said "this has to stop" and he's never had an occasion to ride his stick horse since?  Coiincidence?

Well you got your wish, at least for a while.