Monday, April 05, 2010

THE SEASON BEGINS

***AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST HEARTBREAK***
The offense seemed okay, but the pitching & defense failed miserably. With a five-run lead and CC sailing along, things looked good for a while and then it started to break down. CC seemed to run out of steam in the 5th, but got thru it, then Girardi sent him out for the 6th and then compounded the issue by leaving him in too long. When CC starts missing the plate, it's time to move him. The relievers were no better. Posada again illustrated how badly his catching skills have eroded with 2 passed balls (officially 1, but we know better), and is beginning to actually look uncomfortable back there.
Then there's Gardner: hitting the way the Yanks hoped, running the bases like a wild animal, including a beautifully executed steal of home on the back end of a double steal. Then came the THROW. On a single to left, he threw perfectly to third. Well, it would have been perfect if he started the throw from centerfield. Instead he missed the cutoff man, A-Rod and home plate by a mere thirty feet. ...but it was a strong throw.
Newcomer Curtis Granderson performed exactly as expected: good fielding, hitting with power and helpless against left-handers. Hitting Coach Kevin Long has his work cut out for him.

I hope this gets better.

***CONNECTICUT LADIES ROLL***
They took Baylor phenom, Grinder, to school, scoring over her, around her and without her. Twice, Tina Charles beat Grinder down the floor for easy baskets, and showed her that you have to guard Tina on the outside, too. At least Baylor kept the deficit at 20 points.
Stanford, the last team to beat Connecticut, is the final obstacle to a 2nd straight undefeated season. The game is tomorrow night at 8:30 pm.

The mens game, on the other hand starts at 9:00 pm, which means they probably won't be crowing a champion until 11:30. Another sport ignorant of the need to showcase their main event at a time when the next generation of fans might be allowed to stay up and watch it. Who do they think they are? Major league baseball?

***BOB MATTHEW'S PICKS***
AMERICAN LEAGUE: Yanks, Twins, Angels, wild card Red Sox. Really went out a limb, didn't he? Maybe these are last years picks.
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Phillies, Cardinals, Rockies, wild card Giants. At least picking the Giants showed some guts.
WORLD SERIES: Phillies over the Yanks in six. Thanks, Bob.

***ANOTHER ANNOUNCER TO IGNORE***
I pray that this is just a nasty rumor, but I read that Curt Schilling has agreed to annoy ...er, announce baseball games this year. Just great! Maybe they'll set him up with Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan and somebody will set fire to the booth. I have the matches.

CP-

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