Monday, August 24, 2009

BYE BYE BOSTON

***YANKS WIN SERIES***
The Sox are now faced with trying to win the wild card because I don't believe they will be able to catch the Yanks. In fact, if their starting rotation, thought to be invincible in April, doesn't straighten out, the Sox post-season streak is over. Some interesting thoughts on this series:
1. Why did Francona leave Beckett in so long? When you fall 3+ runs behind, does it make sense to let the ace of your staff throw 8 innings and 120 pitches?
2. Hideki Matsui is on a pace to hit 30 homers and have 90 RBI's and yet it seems a forgone conclusion that this is his last year in pinstripes. Of course, how many full-time DH's (Damon, Matsui, Posada and, eventually, Jeter or A-Rod) can a team carry?
3. To reiterate: Joe West is the worst umpire in baseball. He has a strike zone the size of Montana, has rabbit ears and has the biggest ego since Ken Kaiser. He's so far out of shape, I don't think he needs a chest protector when working the plate .
4. Those purveyors of baseball knowledge, Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips, are at it again. Derek Jeter leads off with a home run to right center. What startling information comes out of the booth? "Well, the reason Jeter is hitting so well this year, is that he's learned to hit to right." Jeter's only been hitting the ball to right for 14 years. Have these guys ever seen a baseball game? Instead of broadcasting the game, why don't you two take Joe West out to dinner? I'm sure Joe knows a few hundred restaurants in Boston. Put him behind a plate he can actually see.

***THE METS ARE SNAKE BIT***
They've lost Reyes, Beltran, Wright and Delgado to the DL. That's 1, 2, 3, and 4 in your lineup, boys and girls. Last night, down two runs in the ninth with 2 on and nobody out, Manager Jerry Manuel tried a hit and run. Normally not a bad gamble, however, it forced the 2nd baseman to move to cover 2nd, resulting in a line drive hit right at him. Unassisted triple play, game over. Manuel is so cursed that I think if he threw his hat down, it'd only have a 50% chance of hitting the ground.
As an added insult, the Phils winning pitcher was Pedro Martinez. Manager Charlie Manuel (no relation to Jerry) was so pleased that he says Pedro's next start will be against a Major League team.

***LEFTCOASTSPORTSBABE.COM***
Bob Knight was ultimately fired for behavior issues, but he will now be inducted into Indiana University’s athletics Hall of Fame. No word on what celebrity will be on hand to throw out the first chair

***WHAT'S THIS MEAN?***
John Smoltz dominates teams for years, then comes to the American League and gets beaten into submission. He goes back to the NL and immediately becomes dominate again. How can you argue that the National League is not weaker. With this in mind, does anyone really think that Jake Peavy is truly going to help the White Sox?

***WAKE UP, BILLY***
Billy Wagner of the Mets wants the Red Sox to refuse to execute a 2010 option and NOT offer arbitration at the end of the year before he will approve a trade. That would make him a complete free agent in 2010, with no strings attached for any team that signs him. You'll get $10 million dollars and play on a team with a chance to make the playoffs, Billy. Shut up and make the move.

In four days, Picasner and Annie-O leave on a 24-day scouting trip to the west coast. We all hope that Vod Kanockers is sharpening his typing skills for the stretch run.

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