It's not a one-day fluke.
It's not a two-day fluke.
It's not even a three-day fluke.

It's now, officially, a FOUR DAY FLUKE!

First place: Montreal Expos.

True baseball fans rejoice (except maybe those in Philadelphia, South Florida and the Borough of Queens -- there are none in Atlanta, by the way). Enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts. Thank you Vlad. Thank you Michael Barrett. Thank you hunky hunka Peter Bergeron, you run-scoring machine. Thank you Tony Armas Jr. And thank you, especially, Frank Robinson.

Bud Selig must be spinning in his living grave. When's he going to start talking about contracting away Les Expos during the season?

And so late in the season also. WooHoo From just one of millions of Braves fans.

Michael Barrett -- reasonable candidate for the Prettiest Blond in MLB History and temporary NL RBI leader -- credits strength and conditioning coach Dale Torborg with his early slugging. I'd suggest Muscle & Fitness schedule a nice workout pictorial with our fave rosy-lipped receiver posthaste...

CITT, I don't think any degree of success by the Twins or 'Spos will keep Beelzebud from "trying" again to contract them next winter as his first salvo in Lockout 2003. Unless the sane owners (sic?) stage a coup first.

[quote]Originally posted by Bill W:
CITT, I don't think any degree of success by the Twins or 'Spos will keep Beelzebud from "trying" again to contract them next winter as his first salvo in Lockout 2003. Unless the sane owners (sic?) stage a coup first.

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Agreed. I'm just wondering when the Ugliest Man in America (a.k.a. Allan H. Selig) is going to say that contraction could occur IN THE MIDDLE OF the season and that the first place Expos are the chosen ones to go. It would be so WFL of Bud, but it's not beneath him.

In the meantime ... it's now DAY 5 of the First Place Montreal Expos (even if that includes the 2-2 and 3-3 record days when everyone in the NL East was tied for first, and last). It's like 85 degree weather here in Las Vegas ... it won't last much longer, but that doesn't stop it from being totally enjoyable for the (brief) duration.

Most of all, I'm loving the attendance figures at these Expos @ Marlins games; just over 5,000 last night, 4,466 tonight ('Spos lost). I guess Jeffrey Loria's ingenious marketing campaign is not quite panning out. As much as I'd like to see the Expos with more wins at season's end, I'd love to see them outdraw the Marlins. D'ya think I bear a grudge much?

[quote] It's like 85 degree weather here in Las Vegas

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CitT, is that really necessary? Some of us are still celebrating 10C (about 45F).

Time to revive this thread... The Expos are now tied with the Mets in first place of the NL East. Woohoo! They are facing each other tomorrow so maybe it will not last for long. It could depend on the number of errors committed by the Mets.

[quote]It could depend on the number of errors committed by the Mets.

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Stuff it! Don't even mention it.

We all know the 'Spos will falter faster than a falling comet!

BTW, ALOMAR STINKS!

11,464 fans at the Big Owe last night to see Montreal beat the Mets; an 'expo'nential increase over the last few games. But Mets fans can take consolation in knowing the Expos tied them in errors (2) in this game.

If there were 11,000+ fans there last night, it's only because about 8,000 made the trip from New York. I haven't seen as many opposing fans at a game since the last time the Yankees were at Shea.

Montreal is playing well, but it won't last. They'll go down faster than a Times Square whore...

Expos win over Mets, they are in first place!! The comet hasn't died yet and the Time Square whore didn't go down.

11,600 fans today thanks in part to people from New York.

Perhaps the Expos will go down like a good Times Square whore--one who takes a little longer but also stays down longer?

I'll be the first to admit it: the Expos outplayed the Mets this series. You're absolutely right, Zeno--the comet's still in the air, the whore is still standing!

BUT, I'm not ready to concede the season just yet. I like the Mets chances in the East this year, given what I've seen of the other contenders so far.

Selig haters have gotta love that fact that, as of this morning 4/21 -- not only are the Expos in first place but the Minnesota Twins as well.

If this keeps up, it would make a very, very funny movie. But who would play Bud Selig?

Nos Amours haven't been in first place this late in the season since '95 – just before the Great Disbandment. The Expos have scored more runs than any team in the NL. Who needs a low ERA?

Thank you to all Mets fans who made the journey north to spur our economy and lose the series. We appreciate the error of your ways. Let's hope we can now sweep the Selig Family Brewers. Then the Cards come to town.

It's unrealistic to expect the Expos home attendance to rise until Les Canadiens are out of the NHL play-offs. We do have our priorities, you know. Ice, ice, baby.

The Expos lead the NL not just for runs scored. I looked at the batting statistics and they lead in runs scored, RBI, batting average, hits, doubles and walks. A nice moment while it lasts and before they are history...

[quote]Originally posted by NoSteroidz:
Selig haters have gotta love that fact that, as of this morning 4/21 -- not only are the Expos in first place but the Minnesota Twins as well.

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Gov. Jesse Ventura yesterday said "I've got a better idea: Why doesn't Selig contract Milwaukee?"

"I mean, they're in last place right now. They've got a brand new stadium and they're not drawing. Plus, they've got two other teams out there in competition just 100 miles away, the Sox and the Cubs."

Just heard that Bud Selig had a terrible nightmare last night ... the Twins were playing the Expos in the World Series.

Of course I could have won the multi state lotto last week too.

Ho hum. Another day, another Expos victory, this time over the Brewers. This had to be the first time that two teams owned by Major League Baseball played head to head. Unfortunately, only 3,561 fans showed up to witness this historic event, since there was another event across town, something the locals call "iced hockey."

The Mets also won to keep pace with the Expos, but lost Piazza and Perez to injuries in the process. Hey, when's the last time anyone's used the expression "keep pace with the Expos?" Yet another historic moment.

[quote]Originally posted by DCBucky:
Gov. Jesse Ventura yesterday said "I've got a better idea: Why doesn't Selig contract Milwaukee?"

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Jesse the Governor has a valid point. M'waukee is the smallest metropolitan area with a MLB franchise. The only markets even close to being as small are (1) Kansas City, which has a whole lot of open territory for a TV market to the north, west, and south, and (2) Cincinnati, which has a metro area of one million just to north (Dayton) and another one of a half-million just to the south (Lexington, KY) M'waukee is hemmed in by Chicago to the south, Minnesota to the west, and Lake Michigan to the east. Too small and no secondary metropolitan areas for additional drawing.

Take one for the team, Bud.

Yes, they win again, this time in the bottom of the 15th, after tying it up in the bottom of the 12th (don't you hate that, Ump25?), guaranteeing a series win over Budette's Brew Crew. This game seemed to be synonymous with the Expos as a franchise: Never Say Die!

Oh yeah. Go Twins!

[quote]Originally posted by Charlie in the Trees:
M'waukee is ... too small and no secondary metropolitan areas for additional drawing.

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Whaddya mean -- what about Sheboygan ... Oshkosh ... Oconomowoc ??
btw, you got the accent down -- dontcha know the last vestige of my 'sconsin accent is calling Milwaukee M'waukee!

Also, glad to see the Washington Senators (errr, Les Expos) doing well -- albeit at the expense of the Brew Crew.

[quote]Originally posted by Seph:
Yes, they win again, this time in the bottom of the 15th, after tying it up in the bottom of the 12th (don't you hate that, Ump25?)

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Yes, I do. Long games don't thrill the hell out of me. BTW, why do you ask ME this?

Is this thread getting old yet? Oh well, I'll keep it alive for as long as it lasts.

Expos sweep the Crewers. Bring on the Cards!

[quote] BTW, why do you ask ME this?

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Ump25, it's just that I know I wouldn't want a job that had no predetermined "punch-out" time! Plus, I know you'd rather be posting with us here, not on the field at 1:30 a.m. Btw, what's the longest game you've worked?

[quote]Originally posted by Seph:
Ump25, it's just that I know I wouldn't want a job that had no predetermined "punch-out" time! Plus, I know you'd rather be posting with us here, not on the field at 1:30 a.m. Btw, what's the longest game you've worked?

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Ah, but therein lies the charm of baseball--no clocks or timers.

As far as the longest game I've worked? Well, there have been a few, including one last season that had an unbelievable comeback ending. I seem to be the recipient of several looooong games of the last couple years.

I'll just leave it at that.

Such the Milwaukee haters here! Lets face most teams are losing money something has to be done. And the 'spos drew 3,000 on Tues, 5,000 Wed not sure yesterday I had , had enough of the Brewers bad play anyhow minor league teams outdraw them. Id be in favor of them moving first to DC or Carolina before contracting though. And im not in favor of the Twins going down. I think contracting them was more scare tactics for a new stadium. Florida is the other non drawing team that should move.

Hey! It's May! Love is in bloom! And the Expos are still in first!

The 'Spos beat the 'Stros again tonight, led by player-of-the-week (and probably player of the month of April) Vlad Guerrero, his second 2-homer night in three games. Is Vladi the best player in baseball? Unequivocally, yes. When he comes to play in your ballpark, I urge you to go. Watch. He may have the best arm in any outfield. You'll feel the wind from his swinging bat 20 rows up. The sound of the ball off his bat is like no other. He's a horse of a man running the bases. Just go. Watch. For your early consideration: Guerrero for 2002 MVP.

Expos in first place... no more. It will be tough for them to regain first place, the Mets keep winning. The Mets have to be stopped!

It was good to see the Expos in first place. It didn't last very long but it was good.

Let's not give up hope on the Expos just yet. They have a good young team and hopefully they'll be able to keep it up. There is still a long ways to go in the season though, and hopefully they can avoid injuries and keep up the good play.

So I took my two nephews to the Expos game tonight, because it was $5-a-seat/$1-hotdog night. The total attendance was 29,778, a great crowd by Montréal standards.

Now let's do some math:

29,778 x $5 = a gate of $148,890 (not including concession and souvenir stands).

vs.

the usual Montreal attendance (say, 5,000) x the average of their ticket prices (say $20) = a gate of $100,000.

The difference? A 50% net increase at the gate (not including the huge increase at the concession stands – at least $60,000 worth of hotdogs alone, never mind the fries, cokes and beers to go with 'em , all at regular prices).

My question for Expos owners/management (read: MLB): Why do you discourage attendance at games with those regular HIGH ticket prices, when you could increase your profit margin (and fan interest in the team) by reducing the prices to a reasonable level that most families can afford. Huh? HUH?

Simple Economics 101 lesson: If you're not selling out your stadium, reduce the price of admission. How difficult is THAT to understand?

Oh well, the Expos lost, but it was still worth the price of admission, since we all had a great time, especially when a STREAKER ran across the field in the bottom of the eighth and tried to "steal" (literally) second base. Well, he was not really a "streaker" per se, since he was wearing a silver lame g-string (très chic). Of course, I would never endorse such stupid behavior, but I (and 29,777 others) did have a good laugh, and my two nephews thought it was a real hoot. They had never even heard the word "streaker" before. Just what are they (not) teaching kids in school these days??

Your suggestion makes sense to me, Seph. The reduced ticket price promotion for yesterday's game was obviously a big success (at first, I thought the attraction was Barry Bonds presence, but apparently he didn't play). When was the last time the Expos drew 30,000 fans? I hope to make it to Montreal for a game in July when I go to Ottawa to visit family. Judging by the schedule, it looks I'll be able to see them play either the Phillies or Mets (hopefully the latter).

[quote]Originally posted by Seph:
Well, he was not really a "streaker" per se, since he was wearing a silver lame g-string (très chic).

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So where did you buy the g-string?