Is Bryce Harper pressing, or is it too soon to judge from 10 ABs (6 Ks)? Am I crotchety to be irked by headlines focused on Carlos Beltran’s 2 HRs, when the score was already 7-3 in the 6th before he got going? Do you, too, feel younger seeing Andy Pettitte on the mound with his cap pulled low? Who knew that Ichiro could breakdance? These and other matters are officially open for discussion!
Luis, I don’t know what the lexicon is in Mexico, but if my time in Spain has taught me anything it’s that in sports, everything is a “polémico”. Footballer scores offside goal? Polémico. Manager pokes opposition coach in the eye? Polémico. Star player admits preference for strawberry-flavoured ice cream? Super polémico.
So, do you think last night’s torching of J.Johnson spooked Buck Showalter out of his standard game plan — 6 from the SP and “thanks, we’ll take it from here”? Or was it because he used so many relievers last night?
I just didn’t like Chen opening the inning against Nunez & Jeter, who both MASHED lefties this year. More than half of Chen’s starts were 6 IP or less, and this is October.
Granderson is apparently the first to bat eighth in the post-season in the same season he hit 40+ HRs. However, these guys have started and batted eighth in the post-season, after previously having a 40 HR season (parentheses indicate seasons removed from most recent 40 HR campaign): – Alex Rodriguez 2006 (1) – Gil Hodges 1952 (1) – Tony Armas 1986 (2) – Tino Martinez 2000 (3) – Roy Campanella 1956 (3) – Lance Berkman 2010 (4) – Phil Nevin 2006 (5) – Vinny Castilla 2003 (5) – Tino Martinez 2005 (8) – Darrell Evans 1984 (11) Others who batted… Read more »
Good one, deal.
This makes the first post-season series with two 600 HR players. Thome is also part of the only other series with a 500 HR pair:
– with teammate Ken Griffey in the 2008 ALDS
– with teammate Manny Ramirez in the 2009 NLDS and NLCS
– against Alex Rodriguez in the 2010 ALDS
If I did my P-I search right, Johnson is the first reliever to get a save in game 2 of a series, after losing game 1.
In the 1996 ALCS (also between the Orioles and Yankees) Randy Myers entered a tied game 1 in the 9th inning and kept a clean sheet until losing in the 11th on a walk-off Bernie Williams HR. In game 2, Myers started the 9th inning with a save opportunity but allowed runners to reach 1st and 2nd with one out and was relieved by Armando Benitez, who got the save.
Among things I’ve missed over the last 15 years…biting my finger nails in the 9th inning of an Orioles game in October. Go O’s; they’ll grow back.
Among the things I haven’t missed over the last 15 years…staying up until midnight (EDT) and trying to function at work the next morning. Go O’s; I’ll sleep in November!
RJ, I cared (rooting for SF) when Casilla wouldn’t throw Votto a strike in the 8th.
He’s a very different hitter right now than we’re used to. In his last 40 games, Votto hit .295 with zero HRs and 9 RBI, but with 36 walks. Don’t you think pitchers should be challenging him a little bit more?
John Smoltz mentioned that Greg Maddux had made a play similar to the one Ichiro made at home plate in last night’s game to score a run in the first.
Here’s the video of Mad Dog’s play; it’s even more impressive than Ichiro’s:
Tuesday night chat? How the Giants managed to win tonight I don’t know. 16 strikeouts, runs came on sequences of HBP, BB, sac bunt, sac fly; and single, single, passed ball, reached on error. Still no hits with runners in scoring position in the series, only three XBH total. With Zito taking the mound tomorrow the Giants offence is going to have to wake up sharpish. It’s a miracle they’re not home already.
