Sunday, October 05, 2014

STILL A LOT OF BASEBALL OUT THERE

Four playoff games on Friday, but only two on Saturday. The Giants and the Nationals tried to ease the pain for you baseball junkies by playing two games by themselves. Well, actually it was only one game, but they seemed to play it twice.
The KC Royals aren't satisfied with the usual 9-inning games either. They seemed to prefer extra-inning games, or what Michael Kay calls, "Free baseball." It isn't really free; they do manage to squeeze in a few extra commercials.

SAN FRAN - 2 WASHINGTON -1
The Giants used 20 players, the Nationals used 21, which means almost everybody played including a trainer, a couple of batgirls and an ice cream vendor that wandered too close to the dugout. In 18 innings, home plate umpire Vic Carapuzzo saw 485 pitches, some of which he called correctly. Asdrubal Cabrera (my favorite baseball name along with Wilmer 'Vinegar Bend' Mizell) got himself ejected in the 10th inning for complaining about a strike call - complaining vehemently. Actually, I think he forgot to include overtime pay in his last contract and wanted out. Manager Matt Williams went with him because you need two people to play canasta.

THE SCHEDULE
This will be interesting. Baltimore plays Detroit today, as does Kansas City and the LA Angels. Baltimore and KC are both up two games to none, and if they both win today, they don't play each other in the next round until Friday. Why? Because it's very possible that the last NL 1st round game isn't until Thursday.  This also explains the 41 players used in the SF-Wash. game. Sure, use everybody. They get a day off on Sunday.

BUT, HE'S WELL RESPECTED.
Boston's hitting coach, Gregg Brunn resigned for health reasons. Apparently the fact that the Red Sox batting statistics for 2014 were among the worst in baseball, had nothing to do with it. Gee, not even a little bit?

ONE DRAMA DOWN, ANOTHER ON DECK.
Derek Jeter is gone, Alex Rodriquez is back. 'Nuff said.
Except this: Steiner Collectibles is selling "Derek Jeter Game-Used Dirt," starting at $20 for a teaspoonful. Oh, brother!

TO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE. THAT IS THE QUESTION.
Managers always say the toughest decision they have to make is when to change pitchers. Buster Olney says, " There is no perfect time for a manager to pull your starting pitcher."  ESPN's baseball analysts think there is: The batter just before your starter gets the crap beat out of him. Of course, they say this after the beating has occurred.

***THEY SAID IT***

"A jersey worn by little leaguer Mo’ne Davis is heading to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. That reported three-alarm fire was just smoke coming from Pete Rose’s ears."  -- Brad Dickson
"So Derek Jeter is having a big party on Long Island this weekend, which is “trending” because of reports that it’s a secret wedding. Sigh. Well, to be fair, Jeter has been out of the headlines for almost a whole week."  -- Janice Hough
"Memo to Melo Anthony: If you have to tell us you’re an underrated superstar, you’re probably not."  -- Mike Lupica
"Between the fountains at Kaufman Stadium and the waterfalls in Anaheim, I’m taking a lot of trips to the bathroom."  -- Bill Fleming
"Authorities were unable to administer a breathalyzer to Michaels Phelps after he was stopped for suspectd DUI. He held his breath for six minutes."  -- Seth Meyers
"Kevin Durant is unable to palm an NBA basketball. Isn’t that like complaining that Peyton Manning can’t kick field goals?"  -- Bill Littlejohn
"What’s this we hear — Johnny Manziel wants to be Jameis Winston’s life coach?
So what’s next, John Daly taking Tiger Woods under his wing?"  -- Dwight Perry
"The Golden State Warriors’ new arena design resembles a toilet. But at least it shows sensitivity to women: the seat is down."  -- RJ Currie
"Manny Pacquiao was drafted by a Philippine professional basketball team. I'm thinking there's one bench-clearing brawl I wouldn't mind seeing."  -- Brad Dicklson

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