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LewaLew

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  1. LewaLew

    Who I Want At 1st Base

    By LewaLew,

    As some of you know, the Cubs had a waiver trade with the Braves that sent our first baseman and biggest star Derrek Lee to Atlanta. At first, I was hoping the Cubs would pick up Adam Dunn, but now he's with the White Sox, while most of the other options have been taken away so that the top three available are Konerko, Pena, and LaRoche. Konerko is too expensive for the Cubs, and it's doubtful anyway that he'd want to sign with them after so many years on the South Side. That leaves Pena and LaRoche.
     
    LaRoche and Pena both have one big problem. Strikeouts. Pena was part of a Rays team that specialized in swinging and missing, and LaRoche was just thirty shy of having 200 Ks on the 2010 season. However, there's an important difference between them. On a Rays team that won the AL East Division title, Pena had a lower average and fewer RBI than LaRoche, although he had three more home runs. LaRoche also has a higher OPS, total of bases, and more doubles and triples than Pena. Pena would also cost more than LaRoche, as he has been playing for the AL East Champion Rays, while LaRoche played for the last place Arizona Diamondbacks.
     
    In other words, I hope to see LaRoche at first for the Cubbies in 2011.
  2. LewaLew
    Jayson Werth has signed with the Washington Nationals for a big amount of money and the promise of playing on a team with two fantastic rookies next year, in the form of Steven Strasburg and Bryce Harper, as well as playing with a terrific third baseman in Ryan Zimmerman. In my opinion, a team with those players has a shot at being a slight threat against the Phillies and Braves in the NL East, but it's going to take a little more before they actually become true contenders.
  4. LewaLew

    Ron Santo Is Dead

    By LewaLew,

    The Chicago Cubs broadcast every one of their baseball games on WGN News Radio 720 AM, and ever since I listened, the two men who gave to game to us over the airwaves were Pat Hughes and Ron Santo. Up until 2008, the only way I could know what was happening in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field is what Pat and Ron said over the airwaves, since we didn't have satellite television until then.

    My dad knew him as the third baseman for Chicago back in the '60s alongside Ernie banks, Fergie Jenkins, and Billy Williams, listening to Pat Brickhouse make the calls for the '69 Cubs, which was probably the best Cubs team my dad ever saw play. Unfortunately, Santo has been kept out of the Hall, and as Milo Hamilton mentions in the cubs.com article:



    For a long time, he has been a Cubs legend. His number 10 flies on Wrigley Field's left field foul pole, and has been there ever since 2003 when it was retired. Santo's broadcasting personality was yet another attribute that can be tightly associated with him, like his no. 10. When you listened to a broadcast with Santo in the booth, it was like you were at the park along with a diehard Cubs fan who was wildly interested in what the team was doing. After all, he was a diehard Cubs fan ever since he first signed with the club as a 19 year-old kid from Seattle, even when they had the lowest monetary offer, but Santo would find that the Cubs had a lot more to give than money.

    Santo died of bladder cancer, and unfortunately was unable to see the Cubs championship he wanted so much before his death.
  7. LewaLew
    I've contemplated entering an RPG contest again. Last time I entered an RPG, it finished second to last in the Final Poll, in RPGC14. I never really bothered to try entering again, but I might if anyone likes this revised version of the original idea: The Matoran's Return.
     

    THE MATORAN'S RETURN 

    The Great Beings are fallible. Their creations are ellaborate, intricate, and all-in-all amazing, but still they have their flaws. In the core BIONICLE dimension, their mistakes were the Element Lords, along with the creation of a robotic being who held no interest for the beings he was meant to protect. But in this universe, that robotic being did not even survive long enough for that. Here, the Great Beings were more concerned with preventing the inevitable than finding a way to cure it. They struggled to keep the Element Lords from the energized protodermis spring, while keeping the idea of the magnificent creation they called “Mata Nui” to the side. The Shattering was fast approaching, and the Great Beings began to grow worried. So far, all of their attempts to stop the Core War had failed, and if they were ever to have a chance at creating Mata Nui and giving them hope of melding Spherus Magna back together again, they would have to start now, and rush contruction. 
    Within only a few years, their creation was finished, but its hurried construction left one major flaw in the camouflage system. With the Shattering fast approaching, the Great Beings took the risk of launching the robot without repairing it, and then went into hiding. As Mata Nui soared away from Spherus Magna, the camouflage system’s glitch suddenly began to cause a massive outbreak of wide varieties of plant growth and wildlife, that completely engulfed the robot and all of the beings and lands within. The rapid outbreak destroyed everything in Metru Nui , thus killing Mata Nui over time. The Glatorian backup pilots were also killed, and for millennia, the body of Mata Nui floated in space.
     
    Within the robot, chaos ruled for the early years, until the Matoran stepped up and took over. They rebuilt Metru Nui using strange forms of wildlife, including large, land-dwelling corals and giant trees that were hollow in the center--the largest of which was used as the new Colisseum. The Matoran eventually replaced all of the inventions the Great Beings had made and replaced them with biotechnology, and learned to rebuild and upgrade themselves with the technology. Meanwhile, in the other parts of the Matoran Universe, species like the Vortixx and Makuta tried to fight the wildlife outbreak rather than embrace it as the Matoran did, and thus never were restored to their old level of power. The Matoran would further explore Metru Nui, discovering the old central processing unit that once controlled the robot, and the dead Glatorian that were meant to control it. Over the course of several years, the Matoran discovered that the robot could still be controlled even though the spirit of the robot was dead, and learned how to do so.
     
    The Matoran became arrogant, and decided to conquer the other lands in the Matoran Universe, using a combination of their biotechnology and their control over the robot. Within a few years, even the mightiest species in the Matoran Universe were under the power of the Matoran,
     
    ***
     
    Fortunately, the fate of Spherus Magna was far better. As a last attempt, the Great Beings let out a wave of Battera on the energized protodermis , and the Element Lord of Fire was killed by one of the Baterra. Eventually, all the other tribes captured the springs, but each time an Element Lord came to inspect his newfound treasure, he would be ambushed and killed by the Baterra. Eventually, each army was leaderless, and the Core War ended, preventing the Shattering. The Agori gathered back together, expecting the Great Beings to return to lead them, since the Element Lords were dead, but the Great Beings never came back.
     
    The Agori decided to organize themselves, since the Great Beings had not yet come, forming a senate to govern themselves. The Agori named Berix invented a device that condensed what little water vapor there was into drinkable liquid, and suggested building their city in the harsh desert of Bara Magna, using his devices. That started a rapid trend of Agori inventing and building new technology, and over time, the desert of Bara Magna was almost completely covered by the high levels of technology that the Agori had created.
     
    ***
     
    The Matoran began to believe that it was Mata Nui’s will that they conquer, although a group of Onu-Matoran began to introduce the idea that Mata Nui may be dead. The Av-Matoran, who had become the leaders of the Matoran, declared the Onu-Matoran heretics and banished them to Karzahni, making them the lowest level of inhabitants in the entire Matoran Universe. Using the idea of being grouped with the Onu-Matoran in Karzahni, an Av-Matoran named Xarkoa convinced the entire Matoran population of the universe to follow him, and he strengthened his own support by claiming that he could sense Mata Nui’s desires. Xarkoa soon claimed that Mata Nui wanted the Matoran to conquer the planet beneath them, as their home, and so the Matoran invaded and created a colony in Bota Magna.
     
    Over the course of the next hundred years, Ko-Matoran spies were sent in disguise to the Agori’s megacity of Atero, and learned as much as possible about the species they planned to conquer. The spies would return, appalled by the fact that the Agori did not even know what the Great Spirit was, let alone honor him. Xarkoa took the wrath of his Matoran towards the Agori as fuel to the fires of his rapidly growing army. The Matoran and their conquered Vortixx slaves began to grow living ships of the strange coral they used for their buildings, while the Le-Matoran and Matoran of Plantlife scientists began creating new war beasts and botanic bioweapons.
     
    Soon they struck the Agori city completely by surprise, and the Agori Senate was in turmoil. The Matoran quickly conquered much of the Ice Tribe’s construction sites as well as Smuggler’s Corner. With the Matoran on the brink of invading the industrial and financial districts, the Atero Senate must find some way to fight the Matoran, before Xarkoa’s false ideas of Mata Nui’s will are imposed upon the Agori…
     
    The Setting
     
    This RPG takes place in Atero, a massive, technology-filled metropolis. In addition, there is the second city, Metru Mata Nui (City of the Great Spirit), filled with plantlife and specially engineered Rahi inside the body of the deceased Mata Nui. This takes place right about the same time as the main BIONICLE universe. The difference is that Mata Nui's creation was rushed, leaving a major flaw in the robot’s disguise system when it was launched to the Red Star.
     
    The Matoran Invasion triggered a massive war between the superior numbers of the Matoran and the native inhabitants of Spherus Magna, the Agori. I'll decide how things go, mostly by controlling Zya Nui Nako, the Great Battlemaster of the Matoran, and Speaker of the Senate Raanu. There are no Toa, due to that the only Toa the Great Beings created were killed by the outbreak of wildlife. Everything else works as normal.
     
    However, you may choose the way the story goes, for the most part. It is the philosophy of the Matoran that battle must be free-moving and ferocious, like Rahi. The Agori prefer less violent warfare without excessive, unnecessary killing, unlike the Matoran who will sacrifice themselves for their cause. In addition, Agori smugglers abound, eager to accumulate as much trading goods as possible, but many also believe the Matoran are too dangerous to be allowed to simply overtake Atero. Other smugglers seek to preserve themselves (however foolish it may be) by joining the Matoran and the Agori organization allied with the Matoran known as "Benevolence Magna" ("Great Benevolence").
     
    Locations
     
    Metru Mata Nui
    The home of all the Matoran, it was transformed into a massive, living city by the Matoran. Its name means "City of the Great Spirit", as they named it after Mata Nui. Little is known about it to Atero's inhabitants, but they plan to find out if Atakus' space vehicle project works.
     
    Spherus Magna Matoran Fortress
    The living colony on the planet of Spherus Magna, it is the home base of Zya Nui Nako and is ruled by Turaga Nui Palnu. Special biotechnology keeps the village comfortable and other biotechnology helps the inhabitants with just about everything else.
     
    Benevolence Magna Headquarters
    Based in the Matoran Fortress, this is where Benevolence Magna's operations are organized.
     
    Atero
    The ancient city of Atero was where the Agori started their city, and thus the megacity they have built is named for Atero. Although it is in the desert, a pleasant climate is created by technology Berix created. In the center of the city is the Senatorial Plaza, and in the center of that, the Senate building, where the Agori desperately try to organize a resistance force against the Matoran invaders.
     
    Senatorial Plaza
    The leaders of Atero organize and lead the city from here. It is also the main target for the Matoran invaders. Within is the Senate Building, where Raanu's senate tries desperately to organize this new war. The Plaza also contained the residences and office buildings for the senators, as well as several monuments.
     
    Financial District
    Home of the Water Tribe and mainly dominated by Berix's company, Collector Climate Control (CCC), as well as banks. Along with a few other company headquarters, the financial district is also filled with parks and rivers, thanks to Berix's climate creation technology.
     
    Industrial District
    In addition to containing the manufacturing plants of other companies, such as CCC, the Industrial District is dominated by Rock Tribe Industry (RTI). RTI is one massive factory for the purpose of creating pretty much anything an Agori needs, but their specialty is war machines. The industrial district is also home of the Rock Tribe. It is another major target of the Matoran, since they consider mechanical machines as abominations, and because it is where most of Atero‘s war machines are built.
     
    Smuggler's Corner
    Home of hundreds of smugglers and pirates, and also the base of Tarduk's operations. Although not considered a major target of Metru Mata Nui, Benevolence Magna is always focused on it. Half the time, Benevolence Magna wants to destroy it, and the other half of the time, they want to recruit every Agori there.
     
    Ice Tribe Construction Site
    The massive crowd of workers in the Ice Tribe have been building since the beginning of Atero. This site always remains the same size, but it moves once construction is completed. Work has been halted here and become a war zone, due to the Matoran Invasion.
     
     
    Joining
    By now, you have probably skipped all that information vital to the preservation of your character's life, and want to know how you may enlist in the ranks of the warriors.
     
    First, you use the form here to create your characters, and post them in the Discussion Topic for approval.
     

    [b]Species:[/b] [Matoran or Agori] [b]Name:[/b] [Nothing like Steve or Ms. Smith or something like that] [b]Gender:[/b] [There are only two, so it may be hard to remember your choices. :P] [b]City:[/b] [Metru Mata Nui, Atero; If your species is Matoran, you must be with Metru Mata Nui] [b]Smuggler:[/b] [Yes or No]; remember that all smugglers are Agori, and may be allied with either side.] [b]Matoran Type / Tribe:[/b] [See list of Matoran Types and Tribes for more details] [b]Weapon:[/b] [For Agori, either choose a blaster ray (like a laser pistol), or make up your own nonliving weapon. For Agori, either choose a Avohkah blade, or make up your own living weapon. All custom weapons will need to be approved, and for more information on Avohkah blades, see Matoran Types and Tribes] [b]Appearance:[/b] [Masks and helmets must be preexisting shapes. You must also list colors, and a picture is advised] [b]Bio:[/b] [You know the drill] [b]Special Ability:[/b] [Only for Onu-Matoran]
     
     
    Matoran and Agori Tribes
    Matoran have rebuilt and mutated themselves with organic mutagens into larger, Mahri Nui style Matoran. Agori look no different than the sets.
     
    Matoran Tribes
    Matoran Tribes have developed over time into a caste system for the Matoran. Matoran of plantlife and Le-Matoran are scientists, Ta-Matoran, Matoran of Lightning, and Ga-Matoran are warriors, and so forth. In addition, male and female Matoran have learned how to mutate themselves from one type to another. The only one they can't change into are the Av-Matoran. (Unilike the Agori, you must have the occupation associated with your Matoran Type, but you can still go out and fight.
     
    Av-Matoran:
    The leaders of the Matoran and the giant, living city of Metru Mata Nui. Their size varies, and there are only a few of them. Subconciously, they have gradually been banishing the moral light from themselves, and are becoming Shadow Matoran. Only some NPCs are of this group.
     
    NPCs:
    Turaga Noi (Grand Overlord) Xarkoa
    Appearance: Gold mask, chest armor, hands, and feet, white arms and legs. His Kanohi is in the shape of a Suletu, to represent his ability to sense Mata Nui's desires.
    Bio: Since there have been no Toa, there have also been no Turaga, however, the term still developed to mean something like "overlord". Xarkoa is the leader of all the Matoran, and is believed to be the one who can sense Mata Nui's desires. He ordered the Matoran Invasion of Atero, and so is the being who will decide when the war ends, and he demands that it is when the technological metropolis of Atero is conquered. He lives in the giant tree that forms the New Colisseum, awaiting the reports from his underlings. He has gradually grown insane over time, to the point where he too believes that he actually can sense the thoughts of Mata Nui, and is a very unpredictable foe for the Agori due to his madness.
     
    Ta-Matoran, Matoran of Lightning, and Ga-Matoran:
    The warriors of the Matoran, they are the largest and strongest of all Matoran, almost reaching the height of a Toa. However, each and every one of them is willing to sacrifice themselves to make a kill. Ta-Matoran have been mutated so that they are larger and stronger than any other Matoran. Ga-Matoran have been mutated to be amphibious, and also to be extremely agile and fast. Matoran of Lightning are a very rare type of Matoran, and are used only as guards for the city of Metru Mata Nui. They have been mutated so that their bodies may become literal lighting, based on the power of the Avohkah. Anyone may be a Ta-Matoran or Ga-Matoran, but Matoran of Lighting are off-limits to non-NPCs.
     
    NPCs:
    Zya Nui (Great Battlemaster) Nako
    Appearance: Gold mask, chest armor, and red hands, feet, arms, and legs. He also wears living Hahnah Crab armor that clutches to his body with its legs and claws, and a Kanohi shaped like a noble Jutlin, to represent fierceness in warfare.
    Bio: A warrior in every way, shape, and form, Nako is the Ta-Matoran who controls warfare on Spherus Magna. His only superior is Turaga Noi Xarkoa, who he follows with complete loyalty. Nako is currently based in the colony on the planet's surface.
     
    Po-Matoran:
    The governing class of Matoran. Their reputation for hard rule puts them in good favor with their superiors, and according to Turaga Noi Xarkoa, Mata Nui wishes them to rule the Matoran on a smaller scale. All Po-Matoran have been mutated to have the ability of high endurance, and a tall, imposing appearance. Anyone may be a Po-Matoran, but that won‘t necessarily make you a leader of other Matoran. Some Po-Matoran are simply assistants to those Po-Matoran who are higher-ranking.
     
    NPCs:
    Turaga (Overlord) Palnu
    Appearance: Brown armor and Kanohi. He wears a Hau-shaped Kanohi.
    Bio: Ruler of the colony of Mata Kaita, Palnu is in command of the city and the Suletu beast within, which telepathically helps control communications between the Matoran, their superiors, and their living vehicles. He is a tyrant, but not quite as mysterious as Xarkoa. He works very closely with Zya Nui Nako.

    Ko-Matoran and De-Matoran:
    Spies and secret agents of the Matoran, De-Matoran and Ko-Matoran are able to hide themselves from view like no other Matoran, and so perform many of the Matoran's secret operations. They have also been mutated to be transluscent, making them almost invisible in low-light conditions, and De-Matoran have the added advantage of enhanced hearing. However, they are also very superstitious, and will perform rituals daily to give them success. Anyone may be a Ko-Matoran or De-Matoran.
     
    NPCs:
    Kehlk
    Appearance: Purely translucent armor and mask. Wears an Avsa-shaped Kanohi.
    Bio: A secret agent of the trickster variety. Not much is known about her, except her intense loyalty to her Matoran Tribe and the city of Metru Mata Nui. Her location is also kept secret at all times.
     
    Le-Matoran, Ce-Matoran, and Matoran of Plantlife:
    The scientists of the Matoran. Le-Matoran experiment in Rahi, and Matoran of Plantlife in flora. In addition, they often experiment on themselves, but a failed experiment can send them into the ranks of the Onu-Matoran. Le-Matoran have all been mutated into a shape similar to Tarduk, with long arms they use to walk with and use for experiments, so they can stand far away from their Rahi warbeasts. Matoran of Plantlife have been mutated so that they have the ablility of photosynthesis. Anyone may be a Le-Matoran or a Matoran of Plantlife. Ce-Matoran are a small minority of scientists who work on creating telepathic creatures that serve as living communication devices, such as the Suletu Beast and the Echo Plant, a small tulip-like, silver-colored flower that serves much like a telephone. Le-Matoran created the Avohkah blade, a weapon of living lightning that can be held harmlessly in the hand of anyone who can discover a way to tame it, while still shocking those it does not belong to. It also has the ability to blast smaller jolts of lightning. It is the preferred weapon of most of the Matoran armies. Anyone can be a Le-Matoran, Ce-Matoran, or Matoran of Plantlife.
     
    NPCs:
    Lahki
    Appearance: Dark green mask and legs, with a lime green torso. She bears two extra pairs of limbs, making her look like an arachnid. Her mask is shaped like a noble Shelek.
    Bio: The favorite scientist of Xarkoa, Lahki takes on the tasks of creating the most bizarre and beastial warbeast ideas that Xarkoa’s mad mind thinks of, which make it very appropriate that she too is mad, in a Vezon-ish sort of way.
     
    Fe-Matoran and Ba-Matoran:
    Just a notch above the Onu-Matoran as far as Xarkoa is concerned, these are the worker castes of the Matoran, and are basically slaves, but they’d rather have that than be mutated into Onu-Matoran. Some of them are used as expendable foot soldiers, but have actually proved to be quite efficient, due to their durability. Some have done so well as soldiers that they have been mutated into the higher caste of Ta-Matoran. Anyone may be a Fe-Matoran or Ba-Matoran.
     
    NPCs:
    None

    Onu-Matoran:
    The outcasts of the Matoran, all Matoran who are frowned upon by Mata Nui, according to Xarkoa, are mutated into Onu-Matoran and placed with these, starting with those who developed the idea that Mata Nui might have died. It is possible the Agori will find an ally here, but not very likely. Onu-Matoran all have various mutations added to them. (In other words, by being an Onu-Matoran, you may choose a custom ability. One of the perks to being an outcast. However, they must be approved first.) Due to their special abilities and their large numbers, the Onu-Matoran may actually become a great threat to the other Matoran tribes’ power if someone can show them the truth that Mata Nui is dead, as some Onu-Matoran are trying to do. All Onu-Matoran inhabit Karzahni, the only region of the Matoran Universe not influenced by the robot's malfunction, although its ruler, Karzahni, is dead. Anyone may be an Onu-Matoran.

    NPCs:
    None, at the moment.
     
    Agori Tribes
    The Agori are grouped by tribes in six different sectors of Atero. The Agori are better strategists then the Matoran, and have adapted to their original environments so that Jungle Agori are agile, Fire Agori can withstand extreme heat, and so forth.(Remember that your character does not necessarily have to have the occupation associated with these groups.)
     
    Fire Tribe:
    The Fire Tribe has power in the political world of Spherus Magna, with most senators being from that tribe, and mostly live in the political district around the Senatorial Plaza on the former site of the original city of Atero. They also have adapted so that they can withstand great heat.
     
    NPCs:
    Raanu
    Appearance: Image
    Bio: Raanu was appointed Speaker of the City Senate, and so is the leader of Atero. He is the target of several Ko-Matoran assassins, despite the fact that the Matoran will not stop whether the Agori surrender or not until the entire city is destroyed.
     
    Rock Tribe:
    The technological leaders of Atero, they designed almost everything in Atero except the devices that control the climate. They are skilled scientists, but are still working on a space vehicles project, so that they may perform an air strike at the orbiting city of Metru Mata Nui. They also have higher strength levels than others. Only Ice Tribe Agori come close.
     
    NPCs:
    Atakus
    Appearance: Image
    Bio: A warrior-scientist who loves to tinker, he loves to use his technology to stop the Matoran, and then capture their biotechnology for his experiments. Unfortunately, all his attempts have been beaten back by the Matoran.
     
    Water Tribe:
    No matter how hard the climate control devices work to make the desert hospitable, water is still one of the hardest things to come by, making the area around Collector Climate Control HQ the financial district. Here, the rich necessity of water is traded for hundreds of smaller items in the ancient barter system of Bara Magna. All Water Tribe Agori have adapted so that they can withstand long dry spells.
     
    NPCs:
    Berix
    Appearance: Image
    Bio: An Agori whose building skill made him a talented inventor, Berix has developed a device that actually condenses water through some strange energy, making him the most wealthy Agori in Atero.
     
    Ice Tribe:
    The builders and strongest Agori (except for the Rock Tribe Agori) of Atero, soldiers and builders alike come from this tribe. They have all adapted to have the ability to withstand extreme cold.
     
    NPCs:
    Metus
    Appearance: Image
    Bio: Before the Shattering, he was a recruiter for the Armies of the Element Lord of Ice. Now, he keeps that job, except now he works for Atero, recruiting Agori from every tribe for the city‘s military. However, he has thoughts of joining the Matoran to spare his life, and believes he could start recruiting Agori into the Benevolence Magna. If his recruiting skill went to the other side, Atero would almost certainly be overthrown.
     
    Jungle Tribe and Sand Tribe:
    Most smugglers come from these tribes. The Sand Tribe Agori also did not become the barbaric Zesk we know because they never had to face the struggles of the desert. Jungle Tribe Agori have adapted to have great agility. Sand Tribe Agori have adapted to have long endurance periods, and are the fastest Agori.
     
    NPCs:
    Tarduk
    Appearance: Image
    Bio: The leader of the largest smuggling organization of them all, Tarduk has always been sypathetic to Atero, and now is the main enemy of Benevolence Magna. He is practically the ruler of Smuggler’s Corner, but Benevolence Magna has begun to not only lure more of Tarduk’s employees into their ranks, but have also been overtaking the section of Bota Magna that contains Smuggler’s Corner with sentinent plants similar to Morbuzakh that have been given to them by the Matoran.
     
    Xarcus
    Appearance: Identical to the Zesk, but he's actually intelligent.
    Bio: Xarcus was originally a partner of Tarduk's, under the name of Carzon. However, when the Matoran invaded, he started Benevolence Magna and changed his name to Xarcus. He became more of a pirate over the years, and now is Metru Mata Nui's greatest Agori supporter. However, should Atero find some hidden advantage that turns the tide of the war, Xarcus will only switch sides again if he believes he would be better off.
     
    Other Beings
    Matoran and Agori are the only playable species, but there are other beings. Makuta, in spite of their great power as individuals, were killed by the Matoran when they found the controls to the robot, similar to how Teridax killed his fellow Makuta when he took control of Mata Nui's body. Vortixx and Skakdi were conquered and enslaved. (The Skakdi had not yet been experimented upon by Spiriah, and thus stunk at fighting back.) Toa, as I mentioned before, are all dead, and since there were never any Toa, the only true Turaga to ever exist was the very first one, and since then, Turaga has simply become a word that means "overlord". All other species of the Matoran universe still exist, but are all conquered by the Matoran.
     
    On Bara Magna, the Skrall and Glatorian gathered together to form a group of warriors that would help defend Atero, led by Certavus. However, over the course of several years, the Glatorian and Skrall's numbers dwindled to the point where there are now no more than a hundred fighters overall in their group, and only a little more than twenty of them are Glatorian. The rest are Skrall.
     
    Rules
    I'm going to take an approach similar to what SPIRIT did with Warzone. In other words, you guys know the usual rules to an RPG, and if you break one, I'll give you a warning, you can fix it, and we're all well and good. In the meantime, have fun.
  9. LewaLew
    Sorry for the delay. The day before I planned to update, a trojan infected our computer, so I had no access to the computer. Anyhow, this week's winner is Sumiki: "That's home plate."
     
    This week will be shorter, as I will still announce the winner this Thursday as originally planned. This time, we have a rather creepy photo of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jay Gibbons overshadowed by a Piraka-grin car on one of AT&T Park's advertisements. This is during a San Francisco Giants-LA Dodgers rivalry game midway through September:
     

  13. LewaLew
    The 2010 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards were handed out to two World Series competitors. The AL honor was given to 40-save Texas Ranger closer Neftali Feliz, and the NL Award was given to star catcher for the San Francisco Giants, Buster Posey.
     
    Feliz bolstered a Rangers' bullpen that helped carry the Rangers to their first World Series in team history, and logged in 40 saves during the regular season--a terrific mark for a new pitcher.
     
    Buster Posey, meanwhile, helped save the San Francisco Giants season, often bringing up the question during the postseason that the Giants just barely made it into, "Where would they be without Posey?".
     
    We know where they are with him--World Series Champions.
  15. LewaLew

    Hot Stove Is Cold

    By LewaLew,

    The Hot Stove has been rather cool, and really, I don't have much to write about. Should the BaseBlog become the PuckBlog and be a hockey blog until the baseball season starts again?
  16. LewaLew
    Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards
     
    NL

    C Brian McCann, ATL
    1B Albert Pujols, STL
    2B Dan Uggla, FLA
    3B Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
    SS Troy Tulowitzki, COL
    OF Ryan Braun, MIL
    OF Carlos Gonzalez, COL
    OF Matt Holliday, STL
    P Yovani Gallardo, MIL
     
    AL
     
    C Joe Mauer, MIN
    1B Miguel Cabrera, DET
    2B Robinson Cano, NYY
    3B Adrian Beltre, BOS
    SS Alexei Ramirez, CWS
    OF Jose Bautista, TOR
    OF Carl Crawford, TB
    OF Josh Hamilton, TEX
    DH Vladimir Guerrero, TEX

    Rawlings Gold Glove Awards

    NL
     
    C Yadier Molina, STL
    1B Albert Pujols, STL
    2B Brandon Phillips, CIN
    3B Scott Rolen, CIN
    SS Troy Tulowitzki, COL
    OF Michael Bourn, HOU
    OF Carlos Gonzalez, COL
    OF Shane Victorino, PHI
    P Bronson Arroyo, CIN
     
    AL
     
    C Joe Mauer, MIN
    1B Mark Teixeira, NYY
    2B Robinson Cano, NYY
    3B Evan Longoria, TB
    SS Derek Jeter, NYY
    OF Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
    OF Carl Crawford, TB
    OF Franklin Gutierrez, SEA
    P Mark Buehrle, CWS
     
     
     
    Yeah, it's only a list, but here's a question to ask. How can Joey Votto win the Hank Aaron Award for best offensive player in the league, but not win the 1B Silver Slugger?
  17. LewaLew
    ...since he already answered and gave me the idea to ask the question.
     
    In entertainment, such as movies and TV shows and LEGO themes, can anything truly be better, or are all things in entertainment equal, since everyone's tastes are different, and thus cannot be right or wrong?
     
    From where I stand, the latter is true, purely through logic, not through my opinions. So, is my logic flawed, or does this make factual sense and simply getting tired of arguing?
  18. LewaLew
    Unfortunately, there hasn't been much to write about as far as offseason deals and Gold Gloves go, but we do have the first Comic Caption Contest complete, with Legolover-361 as the winner. Not only that, but he graciously provided his own picture with the words already on it, so I didn't have to put them on: WE WANT YOU!...
     
    For this week, we have a classic safe-out call argument between Hank Aaron Award winner Jose Bautista and the umpires during the September 11 Rays-Blue Jays game:
     

  19. LewaLew

    Baseblog Caption Contest

    By LewaLew,

    I thought I'd try something for the course of the offseason. It's basically the same as the LEGO.com Comic Caption thing, only baseball.
     
    For the first attempt, I've got this picture from Darth Quade's managerial debut, which was also a game I attended, at Nationals Park.
     

  20. LewaLew

    Free Agents

    By LewaLew,

    With Cliff Lee's contract ending, we already have an ALCS rematch between the Rangers and Yankees. The Rangers will surely give a healthily-sized offer, along with some southern hospitality vs. Bronx hostility that Mrs. Lee received, which will clearly hurt New York's chances of obtaining the best postseason pitcher of the past two years. The Yankees on the other hand, will surely be the highest bidders, but they know that Cliff Lee likes Texas, and they also know the Mrs. Lee doesn't like New York. (This is the sort of time when Yankees fans should realize that their team is not invincible, and thus should treat other teams and players with respect, particularly if one of them is one of the best pitchers in the MLB that you'd like to bring to your team) Personally, I'm hoping the Rangers keep him, and I think that Mrs. Lee will make sure they don't go to New York.
     
    Another Texas Ranger, meanwhile, has had his team choose for him. That player is the starting All-Star Game Designated Hitter, Vladimir Guerrero. Guerrero had a great season in Texas, but apparently, the Rangers would rather get a cheaper DH perhaps, in order to give a better offer to Cliff Lee. Adrian Beltre, unlike Vladdy, chose to leave Boston, declining his option for next year, while Jose Reyes of the Mets and Aramis Ramirez of the Cubs have each chosen to stay with their teams another year. In addition, the NL Central Division Champion Reds have declined Harang and Orlando Cabrera's options, while they picked up Arroyo and Gomes' options, and several other options have been picked up or declined across the majors as well, although these are the most significant.
  21. LewaLew

    Base Blog: Hot Stove

    By LewaLew,

    Well, the World Series is over, the Giants are MLB Champions, and now as San Francisco celebrates, the focus of baseball turns to free agency, and to the MLB awards. Big names are on the market, such as the greatest of the postseason pitchers, Cliff Lee, and the man who is widely considered the best player in baseball, Albert Pujols. (Although both the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals will be trying to resign their respective stars) In addition, the winner of some close award races during the regular season will finally be announced, including the AL Cy Young race, in which it will be decided whether CC Sabathia and David Price's higher win totals are worth more than the stellar starts and stats of Felix Hernandez, in spite of his win-loss record.

    Regardless of whatever happens this offseason, however, you'll find it here on the BaseBlog: Hot Stove.
  22. LewaLew
    Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants, who for the first time since they were the New York Giants have won the World Series, the highest championship of professional baseball in the world. (It wouldn't be called the World Series otherwise. ) Although during the first two games, they looked like a mediocre team that was winning only due to a struggling Texas Rangers ballclub, the Giants showed they were worthy of the title of World Champions in the last two games, winning game 4 with defense, particularly on the part of second baseman Freddy Sanchez, and game 5 with the pitching of their ace and back-to-back National League Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum. This Commissioner's Trophy for the Giants was clearly a team effort, but of all of their team, Edgar Renteria was selected to be the winner of the World Series MVP award, and was also the man who delivered a three-run blast that drove in the series-winning runs.

    The Giants' run to the World Series was truly a Cinderella story. They were in an extremely close race in the National League West, and ten games from the end of the season, San Francisco was half a game back from the surprise San Diego Padres after they were shut out by the Chicago Cubs, yet here they are, holders of the 2010 Commissioner's World Series Championship Trophy, the greatest treasure of Major League Baseball. They just barely made it here by the skin of their teeth, who by avoiding a sweep by San Diego, won the NL West without having to play two tiebreaker games to decide two playoff spots, but whether it was by luck or not, the Giants showed through their playoff resilience that they were fully capable of snatching that long-awaited title of World Champions for the city of San Francisco and their fans throughout California and wherever else their fans may be.
  24. LewaLew
    Here it is again, with a slight change.
     
    1) Colby Lewis must hold onto his ALCS form.
    2) The bullpen must get a hold of themselves.
    3) Cliff Lee must recover and become THE UNBEATABLE ONE again.
    4) The Rangers need to solve Matt Cain in Game 6.
     
    One down, three to go. Colby Lewis was fantastic, and now what the Rangers need to worry about is Key to the Series #2, the bullpen. If they do what they did against the Yanks, the Rangers have it in the bag, but if they throw like they did the first two games of the series, Texas is dead.
     
    Bottom line is, it's now 2-1 Giants rather than 3-0.
  25. LewaLew
    C. J.'s injury has me convinced. The Giants are going to win the World Series in five games, and it will be no fault of their own. Throughout the postseason, the Giants have won by facing slumping teams. First the Braves, then the Phillies, and now the Rangers cannot do anything that sheer misfortune can't stop.
     
    Unfortunately, that also means we have what is probably the most dull World Series of the past ten years. Never before do I remember a time in the last decade where such a mediocre team as the Giants has managed to catch every team they play in a slump. I, frankly, would rather have seen Phillies and Yankees again rather than this, because this is really what I interpret as cheap wins. In the regular season, I wouldn't care. In the regular season, you don't have an entire nation watching, but in the postseason, you ought to have better baseball than this. I'd much rather see a Yankees repeat, so long as they won it by simply being a fantastic team, than to see a team like the Giants win simply because the other team got tough breaks like the Rangers have, or if the other team fell into a slump like the Phillies.
     
    I am seriously considering not watching the World Series for the first time. It just is a pain to me to watch it happen. Even so, you folks in San Francisco enjoy it. Even so, if the Giants do win, I hope they do it in seven, so that Wilson's injury doesn't matter.
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