Games 128-130 - Red Sox
Red Sox 6, Mariners 4
Red Sox 7, Mariners 6
Red Sox 6, Mariners 1
Record: 75-55
AL East: 5 GB NYY
Wild Card T1 - Oak
One of two possible explanations exists for the Sox recent string of victories against Seattle and Oakland: a) I'm an idiot, and wrote them off way too early, or b) I'm a genius, and my sky-is-falling, season-is-over entry provided substantial reverse psychology mojo. It has to be the latter, right? I mean, I'm a lot of things, but an idiot?
As it turns out, I also lied about the whole "losses hurt less wins aren't as great" thing, too. These wins were pretty damn great, coming as they did against the toughest teams in the league, and combining as they did great, timely, hitting and really solid pitching. Derek Lowe's given up 1 run in 13 1/3 innings against Oakland and Seattle. If that D-Lowe is back, the Sox all of a sudden have a strong rotation. Jeff Suppan finally showed why the Sox obtained him, going 6 2/3 innings with only 2 earned runs to earn the win in the first game against the M's. John Burkett wasn't great, but he kept the Sox in another game, despite not having very good stuff in the 7-6 win. In fact, the only sour note has been B.H. Kim's rough week.
The Korean sidearmer blew a save against Oaktown, and then another against Seattle. The team is writing it off to arm fatigue and claiming that all he needs is rest - which he got last night. I'd like to believe that - hell, even Mariano Rivera's had some spotty patches in the last few weeks - but I hope the naysayers are wrong about Kim's big game makeup. Twice on Saturday he had 2-strike counts with two outs, and twice he laid meatballs right over the plate, allowing first Mark McLemore and then Mike Cameron to reach base and McLemore to score on Cameron's 1-2 single. As Kevin Millar says, it's time for Kim to "cowboy up".
In other news, Pedro's angry again - this time at the Boston media and talk show fans for questioning whether he was actually sick last week when he missed a start. An angry Pedro is often an awesome Pedro, although his anger isn't usually directed at "internal" constituencies. At some point Seattle has to break its 11-game losing streak to the slender Dominican - I just hope it isn't today.
Monday, August 25, 2003
Friday, August 22, 2003
Game 127 - Red Sox, or They Played a Game Last Night?
Saugus, MA 14
Chandler, TX 13
The best baseball game - for pure emotion and excitement - I've seen in years was televised last night from Williamsport, PA. The youngsters from Saugus, MA - coincidentally, a Boston suburb - took a 10-2 lead after the bottom of the 3rd, and seemed ready to coast into the U.S. Championship game of the Little League World Series. They led, 10-4, heading into the top of the 6th, but the Texas team scratched and clawed and refused to go down without a fight. They plated 6 in their last turn to tie the game at 10, and then scored 3 more in the top of the 7th to take a 3-run lead.
I was shaking my head, full of sympathy for the kids from Saugus. The camera panned their dugout, catching shot after shot of sobbing little boys - the same kids who looked so composed and smooth in the field - and their teary-eyed manager. Suddenly, though, the Texas pitcher walked a couple of batters, then gave up a single, and hope rose again. After an out was recorded, a run came across on another hit. A flyout to shallow right left the score 13-11 with two outs and the bases loaded. Matt Muldoon, a monstrous 6'1 12 year-old, ripped a liner to right to score another run, with the tying marker crossing the plate when the eager Texas rightfielder launched his throw over the catcher's head.
Tie game, two outs, winning run on third, and 41,000 people screaming at the tops of their lungs. I can't imagine being involved with that as an adult, let alone as a 12 year-old kid. Players from both teams clasped their hands in prayer, on the verge of crying or yelling with joy, and only the bounce of a ball to choose which ending. Saugus' batter topped a grounder to third, and was slow to get out of the batter's box. The Texas thirdbaseman charged the ball and slung it to first. The umpire paused, then signalled...safe! Saugus' dugout exploded in celebration, while the kids from Texas slumped over in defeat. It's a cliche, but this game had it all: homeruns, big innings, terrific fielding plays, controversial calls (in fact, the batter was out on the final play of the game, so it should have gone to the 8th inning), gutty pitching, and gobs of emotion.
I don't think the Sox were watching this game, because they were in the midst of their own 14-5 win over Oakland, but maybe a little of the Saugus kids' mojo rubbed off on their more highly compensated neighbors. It's been widely documented that several Sox players, including Nomar, called the Saugus team before the Little League World Series started. Maybe...nah, that's just too Hollywood.
But they did both score 14 runs last night. I'm just saying.
Saugus, MA 14
Chandler, TX 13
The best baseball game - for pure emotion and excitement - I've seen in years was televised last night from Williamsport, PA. The youngsters from Saugus, MA - coincidentally, a Boston suburb - took a 10-2 lead after the bottom of the 3rd, and seemed ready to coast into the U.S. Championship game of the Little League World Series. They led, 10-4, heading into the top of the 6th, but the Texas team scratched and clawed and refused to go down without a fight. They plated 6 in their last turn to tie the game at 10, and then scored 3 more in the top of the 7th to take a 3-run lead.
I was shaking my head, full of sympathy for the kids from Saugus. The camera panned their dugout, catching shot after shot of sobbing little boys - the same kids who looked so composed and smooth in the field - and their teary-eyed manager. Suddenly, though, the Texas pitcher walked a couple of batters, then gave up a single, and hope rose again. After an out was recorded, a run came across on another hit. A flyout to shallow right left the score 13-11 with two outs and the bases loaded. Matt Muldoon, a monstrous 6'1 12 year-old, ripped a liner to right to score another run, with the tying marker crossing the plate when the eager Texas rightfielder launched his throw over the catcher's head.
Tie game, two outs, winning run on third, and 41,000 people screaming at the tops of their lungs. I can't imagine being involved with that as an adult, let alone as a 12 year-old kid. Players from both teams clasped their hands in prayer, on the verge of crying or yelling with joy, and only the bounce of a ball to choose which ending. Saugus' batter topped a grounder to third, and was slow to get out of the batter's box. The Texas thirdbaseman charged the ball and slung it to first. The umpire paused, then signalled...safe! Saugus' dugout exploded in celebration, while the kids from Texas slumped over in defeat. It's a cliche, but this game had it all: homeruns, big innings, terrific fielding plays, controversial calls (in fact, the batter was out on the final play of the game, so it should have gone to the 8th inning), gutty pitching, and gobs of emotion.
I don't think the Sox were watching this game, because they were in the midst of their own 14-5 win over Oakland, but maybe a little of the Saugus kids' mojo rubbed off on their more highly compensated neighbors. It's been widely documented that several Sox players, including Nomar, called the Saugus team before the Little League World Series started. Maybe...nah, that's just too Hollywood.
But they did both score 14 runs last night. I'm just saying.
Game 126 - Mets
Mets 5, Padres 1
Record: 55-71
Usually it's the kids who preclude you from catching the ballgame on the tube, but today was the opposite – having to get my daughter home early for a doctor's appointment enabled me to watch the 5:00 game against San Diego in its entirety. It was a damn good thing I was able to watch the first two innings, too. After Ty Wigginton's three-run bomb and Roger Cedeno's two-run job in the first and second innings, respectively, the Mets decided that was going to be enough. The Padres pitchers retired 20 of the final 21 New York batters. If the Padres could have mustered anything at all, it would have completed the trilogy of bullpen giveaways, but Mike Stanton and Dave Weathers decided to go ahead and do their jobs this time around, preserving the lead that Jae Seo handed them. I would say something, by the way, about Seo's return to form once I rescinded my earlier praise, but I won't. Uh . . . he sucks.
The Metropollyannas head up to Los Angeles now for three. The Dodgers are still deluding themselves a la the Red Sox that they're contenders. It sure would be nice start the spoiling here and put a damper on their wild card chances.
Tigers Watch: they've now dropped nine straight . . . again . . . and are mathematically on pace to fall short of that lofty plateau set by Casey's Clowns in '62. I have a feeling they'll put together a few and eke out 41 wins. Then again, I bet actual money . . . wait, more valuable than money, I bet beer that the Mets would win 83.
Mets 5, Padres 1
Record: 55-71
Usually it's the kids who preclude you from catching the ballgame on the tube, but today was the opposite – having to get my daughter home early for a doctor's appointment enabled me to watch the 5:00 game against San Diego in its entirety. It was a damn good thing I was able to watch the first two innings, too. After Ty Wigginton's three-run bomb and Roger Cedeno's two-run job in the first and second innings, respectively, the Mets decided that was going to be enough. The Padres pitchers retired 20 of the final 21 New York batters. If the Padres could have mustered anything at all, it would have completed the trilogy of bullpen giveaways, but Mike Stanton and Dave Weathers decided to go ahead and do their jobs this time around, preserving the lead that Jae Seo handed them. I would say something, by the way, about Seo's return to form once I rescinded my earlier praise, but I won't. Uh . . . he sucks.
The Metropollyannas head up to Los Angeles now for three. The Dodgers are still deluding themselves a la the Red Sox that they're contenders. It sure would be nice start the spoiling here and put a damper on their wild card chances.
Tigers Watch: they've now dropped nine straight . . . again . . . and are mathematically on pace to fall short of that lofty plateau set by Casey's Clowns in '62. I have a feeling they'll put together a few and eke out 41 wins. Then again, I bet actual money . . . wait, more valuable than money, I bet beer that the Mets would win 83.
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Game 125 - Mets
Padres 2, Mets 1
Record: 54-71
NL East: Can't quite make out the 4th-place team
Wild Card: One-eyed Jacks
To quote Jon Lovitz as Mike Dukakis, circa 1988: "I can't believe I'm losing to this guy."
So in this NL West round-up, the Mets take two against the 73-44 Giants (with 7 runs/game) and four easy ones against the 61-62 Rockies (8 runs/game), then lie down and die against the buzz saw that is the 47-78 Pad Squad (1.5 runs/game)?? Don't fall in love with the New York Mets, because they'll always take you in; just when you think they've really changed, they stink the stadium up again. Don't fall in love with the New York Mets, because they'll break you every time; so put out the light and just hold on before we say goodbye.
To jump jurisdictions here, I got to watch the avalanche that was Byung-Hyun Kim's outing last night. I said right after the Yankee series that Kim is not the go-to guy every contender needs, and I believe it even more now. Everything he was throwing seemed mashable. The one out he got was a hideous bunted third strike; had Ramon Hernandez swung away, surely it would have been a hit. Two bullpen blow-ups in two nights for Boston. Seems like old times. In a pinch, Rob Russell should begin quoting his April diatribes in lieu of new text, maybe even lifting entire postings.
Padres 2, Mets 1
Record: 54-71
NL East: Can't quite make out the 4th-place team
Wild Card: One-eyed Jacks
To quote Jon Lovitz as Mike Dukakis, circa 1988: "I can't believe I'm losing to this guy."
So in this NL West round-up, the Mets take two against the 73-44 Giants (with 7 runs/game) and four easy ones against the 61-62 Rockies (8 runs/game), then lie down and die against the buzz saw that is the 47-78 Pad Squad (1.5 runs/game)?? Don't fall in love with the New York Mets, because they'll always take you in; just when you think they've really changed, they stink the stadium up again. Don't fall in love with the New York Mets, because they'll break you every time; so put out the light and just hold on before we say goodbye.
To jump jurisdictions here, I got to watch the avalanche that was Byung-Hyun Kim's outing last night. I said right after the Yankee series that Kim is not the go-to guy every contender needs, and I believe it even more now. Everything he was throwing seemed mashable. The one out he got was a hideous bunted third strike; had Ramon Hernandez swung away, surely it would have been a hit. Two bullpen blow-ups in two nights for Boston. Seems like old times. In a pinch, Rob Russell should begin quoting his April diatribes in lieu of new text, maybe even lifting entire postings.
Game 126 - Red Sox, or Somewhere, Don Meredith is Softly Singing
A's 8, Red Sox 6
Record: 71-55
AL East: HAH!
Wild Card: 2 GB Oak
In every season I can remember there's been a distinct line of demarcation that defines the date when I believe the Sox season is over. Last night marks that line for this season. They're done. Toast. Fork. Etc. I can't for the life of me figure out why they can't get over the hump, but these two crushing losses to Oakland put the finishing touches on yet another disgusting August swoon. 4-9 in August. 4 and fucking 9! 16-17 since the All-Star break, while Tampa Bay (!) is 19-14.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to give up on the Sox. That would be far too painless and comfortable, and my New England Puritan hairshirt-wearing heritage won't stand for it. And who knows, maybe they'll make a run in late September to forestall their actual mathematical elimination, as they often do. Now, though, I can watch the games safe in the knowledge that they don't matter, that the Sox are not going to the playoffs. So, the losses won't be as tough, although the wins won't be as sweet, either. Sox baseball in August, it's like Prozac.
(I'm not even going to get into the 17 men they left on base last night. That simply wouldn't be safe for my heart or my office furniture.)
A's 8, Red Sox 6
Record: 71-55
AL East: HAH!
Wild Card: 2 GB Oak
In every season I can remember there's been a distinct line of demarcation that defines the date when I believe the Sox season is over. Last night marks that line for this season. They're done. Toast. Fork. Etc. I can't for the life of me figure out why they can't get over the hump, but these two crushing losses to Oakland put the finishing touches on yet another disgusting August swoon. 4-9 in August. 4 and fucking 9! 16-17 since the All-Star break, while Tampa Bay (!) is 19-14.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to give up on the Sox. That would be far too painless and comfortable, and my New England Puritan hairshirt-wearing heritage won't stand for it. And who knows, maybe they'll make a run in late September to forestall their actual mathematical elimination, as they often do. Now, though, I can watch the games safe in the knowledge that they don't matter, that the Sox are not going to the playoffs. So, the losses won't be as tough, although the wins won't be as sweet, either. Sox baseball in August, it's like Prozac.
(I'm not even going to get into the 17 men they left on base last night. That simply wouldn't be safe for my heart or my office furniture.)
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Game 124 - Mets
Padres 3, Mets 2
Record: 54-70
NL East: 26.5 GB Atl
Wild Card: 15 GB Phil
After getting over-excited about the prospect of watching the Mets-Padres game at 10:00, I proceeded to fall alseep while putting my daughter to bed and miss the whole thing. Then again, I wouldn't say I was missin' it, Bob. Mike Stanton gives up a lead in the 8th and takes the loss while the offense musters just a pair of runs against a team who's lost 30 more than they've won? Seen it. I just hadn't seen it in a while. And again, I wasn't missing it.
Memo to Rob Russell: The Metwagon is still accepting riders. Good seats still available. Welcome to your portion of "Misery Loves Company."
Padres 3, Mets 2
Record: 54-70
NL East: 26.5 GB Atl
Wild Card: 15 GB Phil
After getting over-excited about the prospect of watching the Mets-Padres game at 10:00, I proceeded to fall alseep while putting my daughter to bed and miss the whole thing. Then again, I wouldn't say I was missin' it, Bob. Mike Stanton gives up a lead in the 8th and takes the loss while the offense musters just a pair of runs against a team who's lost 30 more than they've won? Seen it. I just hadn't seen it in a while. And again, I wasn't missing it.
Memo to Rob Russell: The Metwagon is still accepting riders. Good seats still available. Welcome to your portion of "Misery Loves Company."
Game 125 - Red Sox, or Sauerbeck is German for Stinky Beer Fart
A's 3, Red Sox 2
Record: 71-54
AL East: 6.5 GB NYY
Wild Card: 1 GB Oak
Games like this one make me long for the relative numbness of Oriole fandom. Why do I torture myself so much over a group of guys who don't even know I exist, or care really? Hell, I only really know 3 or 4 other real Sox fans, so why is it such a big deal to me? Why can't I root for a nice, comfortable group of schleps like Baltimore or Montreal? Wins would be nice, losses no big deal, beers at the ballpark cold, and the seats would all face the action. And expectations would be nil, so anything better than .500 would be a bonus. Hell, even Mets fans have it better at the moment - at least they're riding a 6-game winning streak, rather than a 4-8 skid.
Instead, I grind my teeth over this team of Red Sox, who took a huge step backward last night when they couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in the 7th inning. Scott Sauerbeck, who was brought in expressly to handle lefties, walked Eric Chavez and Erubiel Durazo in his brief stint. He was replaced by Scott Williamson, who has pitched well since coming from Cincinnati, but threw a 1-2 slider to Ramon Hernandez that didn't slide until it skidded off the roof of the stadium. Hello, 3-2, and goodbye Wild Card lead. Of course, it didn't help matters that the supposedly terrific offense couldn't scrape out a single run in 6 innings against a mediocre Oakland bullpen after chasing A's starter Mark Mulder with a hip injury in the 3rd inning.
I woke up at 5:00 a.m. today, seriously pissed off about last night's game. This Red Sox team is one of the two or three best in my lifetime from a talent perspective. If they fail to make the playoffs, it will hurt like few things short of the 1986 World Series. It will also be a clarion call for a drastic change of personality at the top. Grady Little is the classic player's manager, a laid-back, go along to get along sort of guy who is universally liked (but undoubtedly not feared) by his team. Failure in 2003 will almost certainly require the Sox management team to go out and get a fire-breathing, ball-busting, win-or-else gamer next year to try to shake this team by its collective necks.
Two more against Oakland, with pitching matchups that favor the Sox in both. It's not yet win or else time, but it's getting pretty damn close, and I'm getting tired of explaining that there's still time left. We may be looking at another blog boycott, and nobody wants that, least of all our tens of fans.
A's 3, Red Sox 2
Record: 71-54
AL East: 6.5 GB NYY
Wild Card: 1 GB Oak
Games like this one make me long for the relative numbness of Oriole fandom. Why do I torture myself so much over a group of guys who don't even know I exist, or care really? Hell, I only really know 3 or 4 other real Sox fans, so why is it such a big deal to me? Why can't I root for a nice, comfortable group of schleps like Baltimore or Montreal? Wins would be nice, losses no big deal, beers at the ballpark cold, and the seats would all face the action. And expectations would be nil, so anything better than .500 would be a bonus. Hell, even Mets fans have it better at the moment - at least they're riding a 6-game winning streak, rather than a 4-8 skid.
Instead, I grind my teeth over this team of Red Sox, who took a huge step backward last night when they couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in the 7th inning. Scott Sauerbeck, who was brought in expressly to handle lefties, walked Eric Chavez and Erubiel Durazo in his brief stint. He was replaced by Scott Williamson, who has pitched well since coming from Cincinnati, but threw a 1-2 slider to Ramon Hernandez that didn't slide until it skidded off the roof of the stadium. Hello, 3-2, and goodbye Wild Card lead. Of course, it didn't help matters that the supposedly terrific offense couldn't scrape out a single run in 6 innings against a mediocre Oakland bullpen after chasing A's starter Mark Mulder with a hip injury in the 3rd inning.
I woke up at 5:00 a.m. today, seriously pissed off about last night's game. This Red Sox team is one of the two or three best in my lifetime from a talent perspective. If they fail to make the playoffs, it will hurt like few things short of the 1986 World Series. It will also be a clarion call for a drastic change of personality at the top. Grady Little is the classic player's manager, a laid-back, go along to get along sort of guy who is universally liked (but undoubtedly not feared) by his team. Failure in 2003 will almost certainly require the Sox management team to go out and get a fire-breathing, ball-busting, win-or-else gamer next year to try to shake this team by its collective necks.
Two more against Oakland, with pitching matchups that favor the Sox in both. It's not yet win or else time, but it's getting pretty damn close, and I'm getting tired of explaining that there's still time left. We may be looking at another blog boycott, and nobody wants that, least of all our tens of fans.
Monday, August 18, 2003
Game 123 - Mets
Mets 8, Rockies 0
Record: 54-69
Missing: One wretched collection of 25 weak-hitting, sloppy-fielding, and slow-running has-beens, haven't-yet-beens, and never-will-bes. Last seen wandering over the Triborough Bridge in blackout NYC. Previously seen dropping doubleheaders like Galileo dropped the orange, losing chunks of games three at a time, and making fans flip over to the Brewers-Padres thriller by the third inning. Should be wearing Brooklyn Dodger Blue and New York Giant Orange. Answers to "Mets," "Metropolitans," or "The best damn 54-69 ballclub there ever was." If found, please return to:
123-01 Roosevelt Ave.
Flushing, NY 11368
I don't recognize these guys. Steve Trachsel allowed one hit and nary a walk while notching two hits himself. Mike Piazza and Jason Phillips blasted homers again. The Mets outscored the Rockies 32-8 over this four-game series. I'll take what I can get in this God-forsaken season, and this is fun, but if this stretch of wins had come in April, I might've actually had glorious delusions of grandeur at some point. As it happened, I swallowed daily doses of bitter pills like salt peter at the sanitarium, except with more tantrums.
Well, I just dug up something from a dusty bottom drawer, and since it finally seems appropriate:
Let's Go Mets!
[Oops . . . I really shouldn't have reminded these guys they're the Mets.]
Mets 8, Rockies 0
Record: 54-69
Missing: One wretched collection of 25 weak-hitting, sloppy-fielding, and slow-running has-beens, haven't-yet-beens, and never-will-bes. Last seen wandering over the Triborough Bridge in blackout NYC. Previously seen dropping doubleheaders like Galileo dropped the orange, losing chunks of games three at a time, and making fans flip over to the Brewers-Padres thriller by the third inning. Should be wearing Brooklyn Dodger Blue and New York Giant Orange. Answers to "Mets," "Metropolitans," or "The best damn 54-69 ballclub there ever was." If found, please return to:
123-01 Roosevelt Ave.
Flushing, NY 11368
I don't recognize these guys. Steve Trachsel allowed one hit and nary a walk while notching two hits himself. Mike Piazza and Jason Phillips blasted homers again. The Mets outscored the Rockies 32-8 over this four-game series. I'll take what I can get in this God-forsaken season, and this is fun, but if this stretch of wins had come in April, I might've actually had glorious delusions of grandeur at some point. As it happened, I swallowed daily doses of bitter pills like salt peter at the sanitarium, except with more tantrums.
Well, I just dug up something from a dusty bottom drawer, and since it finally seems appropriate:
Let's Go Mets!
[Oops . . . I really shouldn't have reminded these guys they're the Mets.]
Hey, We're Famous!
Um, sort of. One guy on SOSH linked to our humble site in a discussion of Red Sox blogs. And he likes us, he really likes us. Guess we'll have to be on our toes to make sure we don't screw up anything factual, because those guys are as sharp as any fansite I've ever seen.
Um, sort of. One guy on SOSH linked to our humble site in a discussion of Red Sox blogs. And he likes us, he really likes us. Guess we'll have to be on our toes to make sure we don't screw up anything factual, because those guys are as sharp as any fansite I've ever seen.
Games 120-122 - Mets
Mets 5, Rockies 0
Mets 13, Rockies 4
Mets 6, Rockies 4
Record: 53-69
Well, lookee there. A five-game winning streak to propel the New York Mets out of the depths of "utterly atrocious" and back into the refreshing realm of . . . "really mediocre." It's actually been great to watch, though there's nothing like a hot streak to usher in all of those "if only" thoughts. Unfortunately, the Mets are forced to violate the Gospel According to Crash Davis and fuck with a winning streak; today Cliff Floyd ends his long, painful season and gets his Achilles tendon operated upon. Floyd had a season to be proud of when he announced his decision to go under the knife; these past few games have elevated it to something heroic. In his final trio of ballgames, he went 10-for-11 with 5 runs scored and 5 driven in, even swiping two bases. Gimpy as he has been all year, he has toughed it out and earned the respect of teammates, coaches, fans, and even opponents. He never blamed his array of dings, pulls, and bruises when his level play dipped; hell, his level of play never really dipped. He quietly showed up every day and played his hind quarters off while Mets with significantly lower thresholds for pain visited the DL like it was their beach house. Here's to Mr. Floyd, and may he get 100% healthy by the spring.
As sadly predicted a month ago in this column, what with Floyd cashing in his chips with 18 homers, it doesn't appear that any Met will hit 20, a remarkably pathetic feat. (The Red Sox have five guys with 20+ and a couple more close.) The Expos, Indians, and Dodgers are the only other teams without a 20-HR guy already; only L.A. is as much of a long shot as the Mets. Other than the remote possibility of Mike Piazza smashing 12 dingers in his last 40 games, there is one legitimate dark horse. Your friend and mine Tony Clark now has 16 home runs. He only has 201 at-bats, and though Floyd's absence has Clark taking a few fungoes in the outfield, it likely won't spell any additional swings. Still, I like the possibility of Mr. Russell's favorite Met being the lone salvation from this ignominious rate of ineptitude. (In truth, I don't think anyone would really lose any sleep over this, but it's just one more exclamation point on this @#$%! of a season that we don't need.)
As much as this season's heaping slice of humble pie might have been good for upstart young Mets, a taste of winning is equally beneficial. Once losing becomes an everyday occurrence, there's a level of acceptance. The '03 Detroit Tigers have only the threat of out-sucking the '62 Mets to keep their minds on the job. Meanwhile, at the very least these Mets now can get used to rattling off a string of wins just as they have gotten so used to loss after loss.
Speaking of Detroit, it's time for the Tigers Watch to be resurrected, since they're this bad:
Current Record: 31-91
Winning Percentage: .254
Projected Wins: 41
Odds of Finishing Worse Than the '62 Mets: 50/50
As nice as it is to point to the Tigers to make yourself feel bad about your own awful team, this winning has been nice. Keep it up, boys.
Mets 5, Rockies 0
Mets 13, Rockies 4
Mets 6, Rockies 4
Record: 53-69
Well, lookee there. A five-game winning streak to propel the New York Mets out of the depths of "utterly atrocious" and back into the refreshing realm of . . . "really mediocre." It's actually been great to watch, though there's nothing like a hot streak to usher in all of those "if only" thoughts. Unfortunately, the Mets are forced to violate the Gospel According to Crash Davis and fuck with a winning streak; today Cliff Floyd ends his long, painful season and gets his Achilles tendon operated upon. Floyd had a season to be proud of when he announced his decision to go under the knife; these past few games have elevated it to something heroic. In his final trio of ballgames, he went 10-for-11 with 5 runs scored and 5 driven in, even swiping two bases. Gimpy as he has been all year, he has toughed it out and earned the respect of teammates, coaches, fans, and even opponents. He never blamed his array of dings, pulls, and bruises when his level play dipped; hell, his level of play never really dipped. He quietly showed up every day and played his hind quarters off while Mets with significantly lower thresholds for pain visited the DL like it was their beach house. Here's to Mr. Floyd, and may he get 100% healthy by the spring.
As sadly predicted a month ago in this column, what with Floyd cashing in his chips with 18 homers, it doesn't appear that any Met will hit 20, a remarkably pathetic feat. (The Red Sox have five guys with 20+ and a couple more close.) The Expos, Indians, and Dodgers are the only other teams without a 20-HR guy already; only L.A. is as much of a long shot as the Mets. Other than the remote possibility of Mike Piazza smashing 12 dingers in his last 40 games, there is one legitimate dark horse. Your friend and mine Tony Clark now has 16 home runs. He only has 201 at-bats, and though Floyd's absence has Clark taking a few fungoes in the outfield, it likely won't spell any additional swings. Still, I like the possibility of Mr. Russell's favorite Met being the lone salvation from this ignominious rate of ineptitude. (In truth, I don't think anyone would really lose any sleep over this, but it's just one more exclamation point on this @#$%! of a season that we don't need.)
As much as this season's heaping slice of humble pie might have been good for upstart young Mets, a taste of winning is equally beneficial. Once losing becomes an everyday occurrence, there's a level of acceptance. The '03 Detroit Tigers have only the threat of out-sucking the '62 Mets to keep their minds on the job. Meanwhile, at the very least these Mets now can get used to rattling off a string of wins just as they have gotten so used to loss after loss.
Speaking of Detroit, it's time for the Tigers Watch to be resurrected, since they're this bad:
Current Record: 31-91
Winning Percentage: .254
Projected Wins: 41
Odds of Finishing Worse Than the '62 Mets: 50/50
As nice as it is to point to the Tigers to make yourself feel bad about your own awful team, this winning has been nice. Keep it up, boys.
Games 122-124 - Red Sox, or It's a Game of Inches, and Their Inches are Longer than Ours
Mariners 10, Red Sox 5
Red Sox 5, Mariners 1
Mariners 3, Red Sox 1
Record: 71-53
AL East: 5 GB NYY
Wild Card: Tie - Oak
This weekend's series was both expected and maddening. Expected, because Seattle's a good team, playing at home, and should generally take 2 of 3 from most visitors. Maddening, because I can make a plausible argument that the Sox should have easily swept the series. Equally infuriating was Baltimore's express train to 2003 Twinsville, as the O's handed the Yankees 4 games, three of which the Orioles led in the 7th inning or later. You, Baltimore, are dead to me.
The Sox handed the M's game 1 of the series through a series of godawful defense efforts. Todd Walker continues to cement his status as one of baseball's premier defensive liabilities - his failure to make a simple toss to Nomar to start a 4-6-3 double play started things rolling badly in the late innings of a tie game. Then, Willie Bloomquist's easy grounder took a wicked hop into Nomar's neck, helping the M's avoid an inning-ending twinkilling for the second time in two batters. Finally, Ichiro's foul pop glanced off of Billy Mueller's chest and glove as the Sox thirdbaseman slid to catch it. The baseball gods had seen enough, and Ichiro bowed respectfully to their presence before hammering a gift grand slam to lead the M's to victory. I only exaggerate slightly when I say that I saw better defense in the multiple Little League World Series games I saw this weekend than I did in the Sox game on Friday.
Game 2 was Pedro being Pedro. Very quietly, the Sox' stud has assumed the AL lead in both strikeouts and ERA. His 9-3 record masks the fact that he has been extremely solid all season. I saw a stat this morning that, although it's unconfirmed, is staggering: the Sox are 134-9 in games that Pedro has started and they have scored more than 3 runs. That, boys and girls, is simply otherworldly.
Freddy Garcia pitched a terrific game yesterday to shut the Sox down, but he was aided significantly by a generous third-strike call against Manny Ramirez in the first inning. Conversely, Sox starter John Burkett - who has been magnificent over the last three months, posting a 3.85 ERA over his last 13 starts, averaging 6.1 IP per start, and allowing three runs or fewer in 11 of those 13 starts - was squeezed several times in the critical 4th inning when the M's scored all three of their runs. Those calls even out over time, but they didn't help yesterday.
So, with 38 games left, it looks more and more like the Wild Card will be the Sox' only route to the postseason. As much as I don't want to believe it, making up 5 games against the Yankees - even as flawed as they look right now - is a daunting task. 7 more games this week against Oakland and Seattle - this time in Fenway. 4-3 is a must, 5-2 would be better.
Mariners 10, Red Sox 5
Red Sox 5, Mariners 1
Mariners 3, Red Sox 1
Record: 71-53
AL East: 5 GB NYY
Wild Card: Tie - Oak
This weekend's series was both expected and maddening. Expected, because Seattle's a good team, playing at home, and should generally take 2 of 3 from most visitors. Maddening, because I can make a plausible argument that the Sox should have easily swept the series. Equally infuriating was Baltimore's express train to 2003 Twinsville, as the O's handed the Yankees 4 games, three of which the Orioles led in the 7th inning or later. You, Baltimore, are dead to me.
The Sox handed the M's game 1 of the series through a series of godawful defense efforts. Todd Walker continues to cement his status as one of baseball's premier defensive liabilities - his failure to make a simple toss to Nomar to start a 4-6-3 double play started things rolling badly in the late innings of a tie game. Then, Willie Bloomquist's easy grounder took a wicked hop into Nomar's neck, helping the M's avoid an inning-ending twinkilling for the second time in two batters. Finally, Ichiro's foul pop glanced off of Billy Mueller's chest and glove as the Sox thirdbaseman slid to catch it. The baseball gods had seen enough, and Ichiro bowed respectfully to their presence before hammering a gift grand slam to lead the M's to victory. I only exaggerate slightly when I say that I saw better defense in the multiple Little League World Series games I saw this weekend than I did in the Sox game on Friday.
Game 2 was Pedro being Pedro. Very quietly, the Sox' stud has assumed the AL lead in both strikeouts and ERA. His 9-3 record masks the fact that he has been extremely solid all season. I saw a stat this morning that, although it's unconfirmed, is staggering: the Sox are 134-9 in games that Pedro has started and they have scored more than 3 runs. That, boys and girls, is simply otherworldly.
Freddy Garcia pitched a terrific game yesterday to shut the Sox down, but he was aided significantly by a generous third-strike call against Manny Ramirez in the first inning. Conversely, Sox starter John Burkett - who has been magnificent over the last three months, posting a 3.85 ERA over his last 13 starts, averaging 6.1 IP per start, and allowing three runs or fewer in 11 of those 13 starts - was squeezed several times in the critical 4th inning when the M's scored all three of their runs. Those calls even out over time, but they didn't help yesterday.
So, with 38 games left, it looks more and more like the Wild Card will be the Sox' only route to the postseason. As much as I don't want to believe it, making up 5 games against the Yankees - even as flawed as they look right now - is a daunting task. 7 more games this week against Oakland and Seattle - this time in Fenway. 4-3 is a must, 5-2 would be better.
Friday, August 15, 2003
Game 121 - Red Sox, or Just When I Thought I Was Out...
Red Sox 4, A's 2 (10)
Record: 70-51
Holy rollercoaster of emotions, Batman! I was a grumpy, bitchy, pissed off Sox fan when I left my office last night. The Sox were trailing, 2-1, in the 7th inning after scratching out 3 lousy hits against Ted "Human Crap Sack" Lilly (I mean that in the most affectionate way possible). I got home and turned on the TV just in time to see Johnny Damon single in the top of the 10th to put runners on 1st and 3rd.
"Sweet. They tied it up.", I said to myself, out loud, and then headed into the bathroom to, y'know, drop the brown kids off at the pool. I had turned the volume way up so I could listen while I worked, so I heard the announcers describe the collision between Terance Long and Eric Byrnes that knocked Byrnes off balance just enough to allow Gabe Kapler to beat his throw home. Significant karmic implications on that play, as it was Long who made a spectacular leaping grab to rob Manny of a game-winning homer last season - a grab that signalled the beginning of the end of the Sox' playoff run.
I watched the Sox score one more on a bad error by Eric Chavez (hey! another team has a crappy defensive effort - nice) and tried really hard to pay attention to both my wife and the game while eating dinner during the bottom of the 10th. B.H. Kim's incident-free work in the last of the 10th iced the game, and more fist pumps ensued. I even taught my daughter how to do one, though her effort looked a lot more like Popeye's uppercut than the Tiger Woods action I try to recreate.
This was a massive, huge, enormous, gigantic win, both because it put the Sox back in the lead for the Wild Card and because it was a kick in the groin for the A's. Oakland had to believe that they would do no worse than 3-1 in this series after taking the first two games, and the Sox went out and beat Mark Mulder and scrapped back to win this game. Manny Ramirez' epic 10-pitch at-bat in the top of the 9th culminated with a monster tater - his second in as many games - and broke the A's spirit. Man, I love having that guy on the team.
Now three in Seattle, where the pitching matchups actually favor the Sox after tonight. If the Sox can take 2 of 3 they'll head back to a heroes' welcome in Beantown.
Red Sox 4, A's 2 (10)
Record: 70-51
Holy rollercoaster of emotions, Batman! I was a grumpy, bitchy, pissed off Sox fan when I left my office last night. The Sox were trailing, 2-1, in the 7th inning after scratching out 3 lousy hits against Ted "Human Crap Sack" Lilly (I mean that in the most affectionate way possible). I got home and turned on the TV just in time to see Johnny Damon single in the top of the 10th to put runners on 1st and 3rd.
"Sweet. They tied it up.", I said to myself, out loud, and then headed into the bathroom to, y'know, drop the brown kids off at the pool. I had turned the volume way up so I could listen while I worked, so I heard the announcers describe the collision between Terance Long and Eric Byrnes that knocked Byrnes off balance just enough to allow Gabe Kapler to beat his throw home. Significant karmic implications on that play, as it was Long who made a spectacular leaping grab to rob Manny of a game-winning homer last season - a grab that signalled the beginning of the end of the Sox' playoff run.
I watched the Sox score one more on a bad error by Eric Chavez (hey! another team has a crappy defensive effort - nice) and tried really hard to pay attention to both my wife and the game while eating dinner during the bottom of the 10th. B.H. Kim's incident-free work in the last of the 10th iced the game, and more fist pumps ensued. I even taught my daughter how to do one, though her effort looked a lot more like Popeye's uppercut than the Tiger Woods action I try to recreate.
This was a massive, huge, enormous, gigantic win, both because it put the Sox back in the lead for the Wild Card and because it was a kick in the groin for the A's. Oakland had to believe that they would do no worse than 3-1 in this series after taking the first two games, and the Sox went out and beat Mark Mulder and scrapped back to win this game. Manny Ramirez' epic 10-pitch at-bat in the top of the 9th culminated with a monster tater - his second in as many games - and broke the A's spirit. Man, I love having that guy on the team.
Now three in Seattle, where the pitching matchups actually favor the Sox after tonight. If the Sox can take 2 of 3 they'll head back to a heroes' welcome in Beantown.
Game 120 - Mets . . . Or Not
The Mets have had a shortage of power since Opening Day, but last night's game was called due to the power outages across the eastern part of the country. It's always weird when national events derail the 162-game calendar. Rain causing a re-schedule is one thing; snow in early April or late October is another, and weird things like tiles falling from the dome ceiling or the Disco Demolition Night debacle are bizarre baseball quirks. But when occurrences like earthquakes, widespread power outages, or, in the worst-possible case, terrorist attacks, disrupt the ride of a baseball season, it's like a rude awakening from a pleasant dream, being shaken and thrust into a harsh reality of life beyond the balls and strikes. Fortunately, in this case, the casualties didn't escalate, though several have perished in the aftermath.
The Mets are scheduled to open a series against the Rockies tonight, but I don't think the chances of them playing are all that good. Looks like I'll be stuck watching the Yanks/O's, Sox/M's, Jays/A's, and Braves/D-backs. A-OK by me.
The Mets have had a shortage of power since Opening Day, but last night's game was called due to the power outages across the eastern part of the country. It's always weird when national events derail the 162-game calendar. Rain causing a re-schedule is one thing; snow in early April or late October is another, and weird things like tiles falling from the dome ceiling or the Disco Demolition Night debacle are bizarre baseball quirks. But when occurrences like earthquakes, widespread power outages, or, in the worst-possible case, terrorist attacks, disrupt the ride of a baseball season, it's like a rude awakening from a pleasant dream, being shaken and thrust into a harsh reality of life beyond the balls and strikes. Fortunately, in this case, the casualties didn't escalate, though several have perished in the aftermath.
The Mets are scheduled to open a series against the Rockies tonight, but I don't think the chances of them playing are all that good. Looks like I'll be stuck watching the Yanks/O's, Sox/M's, Jays/A's, and Braves/D-backs. A-OK by me.
This Is It
This has to be the last time I defend Pete Rose. Yes, his wagering on games may have had a deleterious effect on his team's chances, just like players in contract years padding individual stats (less of a problem in baseball than other sports) or general managers benching players to prevent them from reaching high-dollar milestones. It's all bad news, but when gambling's involved, punishments must be meted out; I am merely suggesting that it isn't really as bad as throwing games, and that 14 years of banishment is probably enough. The other major sports have tossed players for using drugs (performance-enhancing as well as . . . mood-enhancing). Not baseball. They won't even test. Gambling is their lightning rod, thanks to the '19 ChiSox, and they can come down so harshly on gamblers that they appear hard-line across the board. Case in point: Willie Aikens did three months in prison for a cocaine arrest, then did just one month of baseball suspension, though commissioner Bowie Kuhn had tried to suspend him for one year. At the same time, Kuhn banned Mickey Mantle . . . Mickey Frickin' Mantle . . . from baseball simply because he took a job as a greeter in an A.C. hotel that had a casino, and Mantle wasn't reinstated for two years.
The eradication of gambling ties to baseball has been MLB's axe to grind, for some time. Pete Rose should have known it before, but I guarantee you he knows it now. And he's taken a 14-year ass-whippin' because of his screw-up. That's enough. Ease up on Charlie Hustle and crack down on guys hustling 'roids in locker rooms. Be done with this controversy, and let us get back to the things that really matter about baseball, like my Mets/Red Sox bet with Rob Russell, my Mets/Phils bet with Rhys Lloyd, my family baseball picks pool . . .
This has to be the last time I defend Pete Rose. Yes, his wagering on games may have had a deleterious effect on his team's chances, just like players in contract years padding individual stats (less of a problem in baseball than other sports) or general managers benching players to prevent them from reaching high-dollar milestones. It's all bad news, but when gambling's involved, punishments must be meted out; I am merely suggesting that it isn't really as bad as throwing games, and that 14 years of banishment is probably enough. The other major sports have tossed players for using drugs (performance-enhancing as well as . . . mood-enhancing). Not baseball. They won't even test. Gambling is their lightning rod, thanks to the '19 ChiSox, and they can come down so harshly on gamblers that they appear hard-line across the board. Case in point: Willie Aikens did three months in prison for a cocaine arrest, then did just one month of baseball suspension, though commissioner Bowie Kuhn had tried to suspend him for one year. At the same time, Kuhn banned Mickey Mantle . . . Mickey Frickin' Mantle . . . from baseball simply because he took a job as a greeter in an A.C. hotel that had a casino, and Mantle wasn't reinstated for two years.
The eradication of gambling ties to baseball has been MLB's axe to grind, for some time. Pete Rose should have known it before, but I guarantee you he knows it now. And he's taken a 14-year ass-whippin' because of his screw-up. That's enough. Ease up on Charlie Hustle and crack down on guys hustling 'roids in locker rooms. Be done with this controversy, and let us get back to the things that really matter about baseball, like my Mets/Red Sox bet with Rob Russell, my Mets/Phils bet with Rhys Lloyd, my family baseball picks pool . . .
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