- Did I mention my fondness for Nick Green honing in on his former employer in this series? Lead-off 8th inning single off CC & then the insane spin throw to first… that was a pretty big calculated risk… if he didn’t spin, he wouldn’t have had the zip on the ball to get Jeter, but he loses acuracy — Youk made a solid play reaching for the ball.
- Caption in NY Post article on Yankees — Fools in the Rain (glad THEY said it)
- Nick Swisher doubled off second in a truly idiotic running gaffe; overall he had a deplorable series with miscues and misthoughts… at the end of the game he sat in the dugout looking truly dejected — he was only half an onion away from Freddie Patek
- Looks like the Sox have a thinking 3rd base coach in DeMarlo Hale… yes Pedey could’ve scored, but it was far from given and bases loaded with no outs was perfect, then having Drew tag on the still-shallow sac fly was awesome
- Speaking of which, while Brett Muney did his best Damon impersonation on that 8th inning throw, the Yanks can’t hide Damon’s ineffeciancies anywhere in the OF (yeesh)
- I say Torre would’ve brought in Rivera for 6 outs, given the albatross of being winless against the Sox circling their heads
- He’s probably not out of the woods yet, but doubling his HR total in one series - against the Yankees - sure has to help the Papi psyche
- Trading Penny after that performance is now even easier and more difficult (do you really want him to go away?)
- If Nick Green can play 90% of what he did this series, the talk will be of SS controversy
- Also speaking of which, I do not expect to see Lugo come into a game unless the Sox are in the process of BLOWING OUT a team
- (Sorry… little long, but hey, how often are we 8-0 against the Yankees.. or any team)
- Which leads me to my final question (also first question actually): What is the worst winless streak that the Highlanders/Yankees have ever had against ANY team since 1912? Is this it?
June 12, 2009
June 10, 2009
Sox Great Pitching Beats Yanks Great Hitting
- Lowell was a trooper to even slide, given his hip… 2-1 count on Tek that was a missed hit & run; when Tek came in after scoring you could see him talking in explanation mode, along the lines of, ‘Sorry man, I totally missed that’
- Great pick-up by Orsillo last night of throwing at Jeter, Eck somewhat agreeing, then back from commercial & having time to think about it, saying “Ohmigeez, of course they were” — love the honesty from Eck
- Love Nick Green dialing himself in against the pinstripes after being let go by the Yankees last year
- Kotsay stepped in for Ellsbury and caught a tough liner to center after getting twisted & turned tracking it down
- Interesting pitch-calling over the game for Beckett: early part of the game he was a majority of breaking balls, followed up by pounding them on the corners with heat — looked like a well-orchestrated plan to get them off their timing - loved the three straight curves to A-Rod
- Strike zone seemed pretty wide for both sides through the first six innings — I’d guess there was a little inner-mandate to get-this-game-in, due to the weather
- When Delcarmen came in, he was initially squeezed - many pitches that were called strikes for Beckett were balls for Manny. Great that he kept his head, bore down, and started knockin' 'em down
- Great Pitching beats Great Hitting
- Great pick-up by Orsillo last night of throwing at Jeter, Eck somewhat agreeing, then back from commercial & having time to think about it, saying “Ohmigeez, of course they were” — love the honesty from Eck
- Love Nick Green dialing himself in against the pinstripes after being let go by the Yankees last year
- Kotsay stepped in for Ellsbury and caught a tough liner to center after getting twisted & turned tracking it down
- Interesting pitch-calling over the game for Beckett: early part of the game he was a majority of breaking balls, followed up by pounding them on the corners with heat — looked like a well-orchestrated plan to get them off their timing - loved the three straight curves to A-Rod
- Strike zone seemed pretty wide for both sides through the first six innings — I’d guess there was a little inner-mandate to get-this-game-in, due to the weather
- When Delcarmen came in, he was initially squeezed - many pitches that were called strikes for Beckett were balls for Manny. Great that he kept his head, bore down, and started knockin' 'em down
- Great Pitching beats Great Hitting
May 13, 2009
Shhhh... don't tell anyone, but the Celts can win
Look, I know the Celts still need to beat The Magic, and that IS NOT a given. But, if they do beat them, just by virtue of that and other variables that have shaken out through this series, I hafta throw this out there:
This Celts team would win a series against the regular season Celts with KG -- not necessarily because they are better per se, but because they are all being utilized. In all these battles, they have become a compleat team. Rondo and Allen were pretty average last night -- if I told you at the beginning of the game that Rajon would have a triple single would you have thought we'd win? Allen's 3 pointer at the end was awesome, but he was nowhere to be found most of the game.
Hey, I know Orlando snatched defeat from the jaws of vistory, but the Celts had to do their part -- having the bench (which is really the third string in many ways) score 26 points is huge. What if Stephon is just finally getting warm? What if the whole team is truly feeling what's happening? How can't they?
Look, everyone in Boston is saying that just making the Eastern Conference Finals is a victory, given the injuries. Lebron is too much of a Monster to get past. And to that I'd say that everyone agrees with them, except a few guys wearing white and green. What if these guys don't think they're supposed to lose? What if no one tells them?
Think about it: are they tired? Sure -- but without being put through the paces and galvinizing themselves and each other against their opponents, these Celts wouldn't stand a chance. But now, everyone has played a part -- better yet, everyone now knows they need to and can play a part. They may prove more valuable than a team that has come to rely on the stellar defense of one man.
The Celts right now have more options to create a win in any given game than they did at the beginning of the playoffs. Pierce, Allen, Davis, Perkins, House, Rondo, Marbury,... alone no match for Lebron, but - while I wouldn't bet the house they would win - I also can actually see it happening.
This Celts team would win a series against the regular season Celts with KG -- not necessarily because they are better per se, but because they are all being utilized. In all these battles, they have become a compleat team. Rondo and Allen were pretty average last night -- if I told you at the beginning of the game that Rajon would have a triple single would you have thought we'd win? Allen's 3 pointer at the end was awesome, but he was nowhere to be found most of the game.
Hey, I know Orlando snatched defeat from the jaws of vistory, but the Celts had to do their part -- having the bench (which is really the third string in many ways) score 26 points is huge. What if Stephon is just finally getting warm? What if the whole team is truly feeling what's happening? How can't they?
Look, everyone in Boston is saying that just making the Eastern Conference Finals is a victory, given the injuries. Lebron is too much of a Monster to get past. And to that I'd say that everyone agrees with them, except a few guys wearing white and green. What if these guys don't think they're supposed to lose? What if no one tells them?
Think about it: are they tired? Sure -- but without being put through the paces and galvinizing themselves and each other against their opponents, these Celts wouldn't stand a chance. But now, everyone has played a part -- better yet, everyone now knows they need to and can play a part. They may prove more valuable than a team that has come to rely on the stellar defense of one man.
The Celts right now have more options to create a win in any given game than they did at the beginning of the playoffs. Pierce, Allen, Davis, Perkins, House, Rondo, Marbury,... alone no match for Lebron, but - while I wouldn't bet the house they would win - I also can actually see it happening.
May 6, 2009
Red Sox & Celtics & Bears (okay, Bruins)... Oh my!
I like how the Sox are doing, but the crazy thing is that between closing, mid-relief and the starting front 3, the front three have hurt them the most. I do think that will change for the positive as the season progresses.
Love Wake just being there for the team -- love that he's older than me and in the MLB.
Can't wait for Smoltz -- or for Tiger to come to Fenway to watch his buddy pitch.
Wake & Smoltz should open a New England Golf Open for charity up here.
Joba should be suspended, but probaly won't. He dings Back-Back Bay after the HR -- Beckett was suspended for coming close to Abreu. Bay was body, Abreu was near head, but still feels funky.
Joba has the physical attributes, cap-wearing demeanor of a Lambeer-playing-baseball. Love that flat brim pulled down look -- makes him appear the villain before he goes out and proves it w/ his behavior.
That said, he pitched awesome after the 1st - looks like he'll figger out the starting job to our detriment.
I think the Sox brought back Lugo early not because they wanted him to so much replace Green ASAP, but because they wanted to start showing him off to other teams ASAP -- kind of blew up in their faces.
Which actually leads me to another thought I can't elaborate on now, but it is this: I do not think Epstein is a wunderkind of a GM, picking players-wise; now within the org as a whole he may bring more to the table than others, but even in the crapshoot that is topnotch players and their respective rise and falls, I don't think Theo is truly more than above average (and, that said, I'd also posit that Cashman is significantly below average bordering on terrible).
When you have a chance, please comment on your thoughts of Theo, and I'll go into why my thoughts are as they are.
Celts w/out KG have a very slim chance of anything, but still:
- Powe just had surgery on his knee -- KG's injury calls for surgery, yet he hasn't done it and he still plays a little in practices -- Whuddup wid dat?
- Even if KG doesn't play, the Celts will be in the role of under-dog and this second string squad had a trial by fire with the bulls -- I belive they geled together a bit.
- Marbury stepped up, while Rajon stepped back in Game 1 w/ Orlando. Scal stepped up too; given the amount put on the shoulders of Rondo, can we fault him for having a let down after the big Bulls series? What if he steps back up, just as the rest everyone else really learnes to step in. There is just about no way getting past Lebron et al, but this is sports, and I'm not carving the Celts name in the tombstone quite yet.
- B's vs. the former Whalers -- I don't see it going past five fromeverything I've seen and heard, but I am largely hockey illiterate/ignorant
Love Wake just being there for the team -- love that he's older than me and in the MLB.
Can't wait for Smoltz -- or for Tiger to come to Fenway to watch his buddy pitch.
Wake & Smoltz should open a New England Golf Open for charity up here.
Joba should be suspended, but probaly won't. He dings Back-Back Bay after the HR -- Beckett was suspended for coming close to Abreu. Bay was body, Abreu was near head, but still feels funky.
Joba has the physical attributes, cap-wearing demeanor of a Lambeer-playing-baseball. Love that flat brim pulled down look -- makes him appear the villain before he goes out and proves it w/ his behavior.
That said, he pitched awesome after the 1st - looks like he'll figger out the starting job to our detriment.
I think the Sox brought back Lugo early not because they wanted him to so much replace Green ASAP, but because they wanted to start showing him off to other teams ASAP -- kind of blew up in their faces.
Which actually leads me to another thought I can't elaborate on now, but it is this: I do not think Epstein is a wunderkind of a GM, picking players-wise; now within the org as a whole he may bring more to the table than others, but even in the crapshoot that is topnotch players and their respective rise and falls, I don't think Theo is truly more than above average (and, that said, I'd also posit that Cashman is significantly below average bordering on terrible).
When you have a chance, please comment on your thoughts of Theo, and I'll go into why my thoughts are as they are.
Celts w/out KG have a very slim chance of anything, but still:
- Powe just had surgery on his knee -- KG's injury calls for surgery, yet he hasn't done it and he still plays a little in practices -- Whuddup wid dat?
- Even if KG doesn't play, the Celts will be in the role of under-dog and this second string squad had a trial by fire with the bulls -- I belive they geled together a bit.
- Marbury stepped up, while Rajon stepped back in Game 1 w/ Orlando. Scal stepped up too; given the amount put on the shoulders of Rondo, can we fault him for having a let down after the big Bulls series? What if he steps back up, just as the rest everyone else really learnes to step in. There is just about no way getting past Lebron et al, but this is sports, and I'm not carving the Celts name in the tombstone quite yet.
- B's vs. the former Whalers -- I don't see it going past five fromeverything I've seen and heard, but I am largely hockey illiterate/ignorant
May 5, 2009
The Curious Case of Zack Greinke
Okay, I haven't seen the movie, nor does this man age backwards -- although I do belive Brad Pitt originally hailed from Missouri, land of Kansas City, Missouri, of course.
Greinke is 25 and won't be 26 until October of this year.
He's been in the majors since 2004.
He has the microscopic ERA of 0.40.
He has started 6 games.
He has won 6 games.
He has pitched 3 complete games, or, 50% of his starts.
No other team in MLB has three complete games.
Greinke left the Royals in 2006 and was thinking he would leave baseball -- the Royals soft-talked him back.
By the way, the Royals locked up Geinke for four years this past January for $38 million; he gets $3.75 million this year, $7.25 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in each of the final two seasons of the deal.
From the AP (1/26/09): Greinke, "Each year we've improved and it looks like we're going to continue to," he said. "And that's pretty exciting for me because like I said, three or four years ago I didn't see it coming. It's really taken a good turn for the better.
"Three years ago I was in the minor leagues, two years ago I was in the bullpen not capable of getting hitters out as a starter. Just coming from being so low in those situations to being, after one good year, a really good deal and the chance to stay with Kansas City for four more years. ... It's just really neat to look back at it."
This will be a fun story to watch... (except if & when he's lined up to face your Boston Red Sox)
Greinke is 25 and won't be 26 until October of this year.
He's been in the majors since 2004.
He has the microscopic ERA of 0.40.
He has started 6 games.
He has won 6 games.
He has pitched 3 complete games, or, 50% of his starts.
No other team in MLB has three complete games.
Greinke left the Royals in 2006 and was thinking he would leave baseball -- the Royals soft-talked him back.
By the way, the Royals locked up Geinke for four years this past January for $38 million; he gets $3.75 million this year, $7.25 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in each of the final two seasons of the deal.
From the AP (1/26/09): Greinke, "Each year we've improved and it looks like we're going to continue to," he said. "And that's pretty exciting for me because like I said, three or four years ago I didn't see it coming. It's really taken a good turn for the better.
"Three years ago I was in the minor leagues, two years ago I was in the bullpen not capable of getting hitters out as a starter. Just coming from being so low in those situations to being, after one good year, a really good deal and the chance to stay with Kansas City for four more years. ... It's just really neat to look back at it."
This will be a fun story to watch... (except if & when he's lined up to face your Boston Red Sox)
April 29, 2009
The Streak ends at 11
Give Penny one more start, if no changes, look for a trade for any good role player; I’m in favor of a light-out bunter (I know how ridiculous that statement is, I’m not sure ‘lights out’ and ‘bunter’ have ever been juxtaposed) with solid D in the OF. If nobody wants a Penny for our thoughts, waiver the guy and bring up Bowden (yes, overBucholz).
I CANNOT wait for Smoltz.
I declared the playing of Lugo yesterday a sign of the Apocalypse, as his error proved, but y’know… he DID hit. He may be showing signs of life, even in contributing to the death of The Streak.
Mid relief bullpen is just starting to really get used to the pattern & habit of being used. Once these guys drop into a groove, I see greater things ahead.
My connection to the ‘Canes — if I remember correctly, this is the old Whalers franchise — I grew up in a town right next to Springfield and watched Gordie play for the New England Whalers in Springfield after the Hartford Civic Center’s roof collapsed.
Go B’s, go Celts, go Sox
I CANNOT wait for Smoltz.
I declared the playing of Lugo yesterday a sign of the Apocalypse, as his error proved, but y’know… he DID hit. He may be showing signs of life, even in contributing to the death of The Streak.
Mid relief bullpen is just starting to really get used to the pattern & habit of being used. Once these guys drop into a groove, I see greater things ahead.
My connection to the ‘Canes — if I remember correctly, this is the old Whalers franchise — I grew up in a town right next to Springfield and watched Gordie play for the New England Whalers in Springfield after the Hartford Civic Center’s roof collapsed.
Go B’s, go Celts, go Sox
April 15, 2009
Sox and stuff
Beckett: Here’s what the home plate ump said, “Did he throw it up and in? Yeah,” umpire crew chief Joe West said Sunday. “Do we believe he threw it at Abreu? No. Would we have warned him had both benches not emptied? Probably not, but because both benches emptied, we did issue a warning.
“The Angels were the aggressors. That’s why they were ejected.”
Is the ump probably wrong? Sure. Guess what — it is his call. Watson can fine Beckett for approaching the plate, but he is substituting his own judgement for that of the ump’s. Let’s see him do that for balls & strikes then.
No other ump on the field told West that Beckett was headhunting (even though, I’m sure he meant to throw in his direction).
That ump likely knew how bush-league it was for Abreu to call time that late, and didn’t care how close the pitch came. Who knows? But until we can overturn all their bad calls after the fact, a suspension is contrary to MLB’s own support of umps.
Little talked about fact is that great pitchers are great at control — when they are throwing to areas they practice throwing to — even inside pitches are regularly practiced. It’s skill and muscle memory. However, when taken out of their delivery habit AND he decides to throw in Abreu’s direction in a pitch he knows doesn’t count for a ball or strike, it’s like when pitchers throw to first base and mess up — it’s a whole new ball game. Also, that was not a fastball - there was an actual arc the the throw.
(All that said, I do think he purposely threw in Abreu’s direction)
Interesting to think if he had hit him, Abreu wouldn’t have been able to take a base since time was out — although Beckett would’ve likely been gone.
Bubble Yum is the Coke to Bubbalicious’ Pepsi.
Would’ve loved to have picked up Orlando Cabrera when he was available.
Sleaze-Stack Enick had a hidden agenda.
“The Angels were the aggressors. That’s why they were ejected.”
Is the ump probably wrong? Sure. Guess what — it is his call. Watson can fine Beckett for approaching the plate, but he is substituting his own judgement for that of the ump’s. Let’s see him do that for balls & strikes then.
No other ump on the field told West that Beckett was headhunting (even though, I’m sure he meant to throw in his direction).
That ump likely knew how bush-league it was for Abreu to call time that late, and didn’t care how close the pitch came. Who knows? But until we can overturn all their bad calls after the fact, a suspension is contrary to MLB’s own support of umps.
Little talked about fact is that great pitchers are great at control — when they are throwing to areas they practice throwing to — even inside pitches are regularly practiced. It’s skill and muscle memory. However, when taken out of their delivery habit AND he decides to throw in Abreu’s direction in a pitch he knows doesn’t count for a ball or strike, it’s like when pitchers throw to first base and mess up — it’s a whole new ball game. Also, that was not a fastball - there was an actual arc the the throw.
(All that said, I do think he purposely threw in Abreu’s direction)
Interesting to think if he had hit him, Abreu wouldn’t have been able to take a base since time was out — although Beckett would’ve likely been gone.
Bubble Yum is the Coke to Bubbalicious’ Pepsi.
Would’ve loved to have picked up Orlando Cabrera when he was available.
Sleaze-Stack Enick had a hidden agenda.
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