I'm sick and tired of Ozzie Guillen and the powers that be in MLB (that's you, Bud Selig) who allow him to continue. If he never comes back from his little suspension, it'll be too soon for me.
Ozzie Guillen has been an embarrassment to baseball for years. In his years with the White Sox he insulted gays, women and who knows what else, but because the team was successful for a while, Guillen was tolerated. According to his own description, his life consists of going to the ballpark and drinking himself into oblivion every day. Now there are two options here. Either Ozzie's description is accurate and all that implies or Ozzie is blathering again so he can conveniently take it back when it suits him. Either way, I've had enough.
The fact that the Marlins hired a Hispanic manager to attract the local folks to the new ballpark is fine, I guess. But with so many able and talented Hispanics in the coaching ranks today, to say nothing of sober ones, why they chose Guillen is a mystery. Guillen's thoughtless comments about loving Fidel are just the latest in a long line of insulting and ignorant rantings. Blaming them on a lack of fluency in English may be disingenuous but I'd be fine if he spoke exclusively in Spanish. Or even better, never spoke at all.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Opening Day - Part Two
I thought it was a pretty good day. I sampled three really good games. First there was Stephen Strasburg and the Nats playing at Wrigley against the Cubs Ryan Dempster. Both pitchers dominated. What surprised me was how well the top of the Nats lineup did. Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa looked like they might actually belong in the 1 and 2 slots. Last year they were stuck in those slots because there was no one else. Now, they seemed to have figured it out. Adam La Rouche was back and reclaimed his role as a human rally killer, but hey, it was just game number one.
Then I switched to the Marlins against the Reds. The Reds looked terrific, playing in front of the traditional opening day crowd in Cinncinnati. Cuerto toyed with the Marlins hitters, and the Reds hitters, especially Jay Bruce, delivered.
In between these two, I caught some of the Tigers - Red Sox opener, featuring Justin Verlander, my favorite pitcher these days. Verlander pitched eight stellar innings only to see his one run lead squandered by closer Jose Valverde, who blew the save but got the win in the bottom of the ninth as the Tigers rallied.
So what could top all of this? After a break I stumbled on one more game. It was late and I had no intention of watching anything else. It was the Dodgers against the Padres but it wasn't the teams that kept me up late: it was The Voice, Vin Scully. There, after all the noise of the previous games was one guy in the booth, no color guy, no former player trying to get a word in, It was Vinnie, relaxed, enthusiastic, capable, talking just to me. After all the day's chatter, much of it unnecessary, it was just me and Vinnie, enjoying a game.
Then I switched to the Marlins against the Reds. The Reds looked terrific, playing in front of the traditional opening day crowd in Cinncinnati. Cuerto toyed with the Marlins hitters, and the Reds hitters, especially Jay Bruce, delivered.
In between these two, I caught some of the Tigers - Red Sox opener, featuring Justin Verlander, my favorite pitcher these days. Verlander pitched eight stellar innings only to see his one run lead squandered by closer Jose Valverde, who blew the save but got the win in the bottom of the ninth as the Tigers rallied.
So what could top all of this? After a break I stumbled on one more game. It was late and I had no intention of watching anything else. It was the Dodgers against the Padres but it wasn't the teams that kept me up late: it was The Voice, Vin Scully. There, after all the noise of the previous games was one guy in the booth, no color guy, no former player trying to get a word in, It was Vinnie, relaxed, enthusiastic, capable, talking just to me. After all the day's chatter, much of it unnecessary, it was just me and Vinnie, enjoying a game.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Opening Day(s)
The annual "Play Ball" shout that I look forward to every year took an unusual twist this Spring. There are as many opening days as suit you. Last week, in the middle of the night there was opening day in Japan as the A's and the Mariners split two games in Tokoyo. About eight people noticed and after a few days off, both teams returned to their spring training schedules.
If you like dancing flamingos and neon lights, then last night was the opener in South Florida. The Cardinals helped the Marlins open their new ball park in Miami amid the bling and the fishtanks and the 71 foot homer board. Nothing like swimming pools and bars in left field to bring out the faithful. The ballpark, roof open, was a sucess but the Marlins, bats absent, weren't. They failed to get a hit off Kyle Lohse until the seventh inning and the return of Josh Johnson, the Marlins ace, was underwhelming. The Cardinals looked good against him.
For me, opening day is this afternoon. It's at Wrigley Field when the promising but untested Nationals with Stephen Strasburg pitching face the ever optimistic Chicago Cubs. For me Opening Day is an afternoon game with a chill in the air and a lot of kids and their parents playing hookey from school and work. Grab a hot dog and a beer and wait for the shout: Play Ball.
If you like dancing flamingos and neon lights, then last night was the opener in South Florida. The Cardinals helped the Marlins open their new ball park in Miami amid the bling and the fishtanks and the 71 foot homer board. Nothing like swimming pools and bars in left field to bring out the faithful. The ballpark, roof open, was a sucess but the Marlins, bats absent, weren't. They failed to get a hit off Kyle Lohse until the seventh inning and the return of Josh Johnson, the Marlins ace, was underwhelming. The Cardinals looked good against him.
For me, opening day is this afternoon. It's at Wrigley Field when the promising but untested Nationals with Stephen Strasburg pitching face the ever optimistic Chicago Cubs. For me Opening Day is an afternoon game with a chill in the air and a lot of kids and their parents playing hookey from school and work. Grab a hot dog and a beer and wait for the shout: Play Ball.
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Rites of Spring
Last year it was Albert Pujols. This year it’s Josh Hamilton. Spring training has become less about baseball, getting into shape and who is the latest phenom and more about contract extensions. I’m not a fan of public negotiations or players handing out what they think are tantalizing tidbits about home town discounts and how “I’d love to stay with the Texas Two Steps my whole career.” Sorry. Until you sign the contract, I’m not buying.
Signing the contract is exactly what Ryan Zimmerman did yesterday, agreeing to a six year $100 million deal with the Nationals. No drama, no “I’d love to stay here if they show me that they want me” malarkey. In fact, Ryan Zimmerman didn’t say anything. One day the Nats G.M., Mike Rizzo, said they were close to signing a contract and the next day they did. Just a few “face of the franchises” and they were done.
So Josh, spare us the “my family loves it here”, put on your glove and get ready to play baseball. The rest is just blather.
Signing the contract is exactly what Ryan Zimmerman did yesterday, agreeing to a six year $100 million deal with the Nationals. No drama, no “I’d love to stay here if they show me that they want me” malarkey. In fact, Ryan Zimmerman didn’t say anything. One day the Nats G.M., Mike Rizzo, said they were close to signing a contract and the next day they did. Just a few “face of the franchises” and they were done.
So Josh, spare us the “my family loves it here”, put on your glove and get ready to play baseball. The rest is just blather.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Spring 2012
It’s insidious this start of baseball every February. It starts with the rumblings of pitchers and catchers report in a week. Next thing you know there’s actually baseball news in the sports pages every day. Soon, you’re checking to see whose elbow is sore after throwing and who strained his left oblique. Then it’s who signed a contract extension and who’s still waiting for a visa in the D.R.
And before you know it, baseball is back. You’re filling out your brackets and watching the crocus’ poke out of the soil but what you’re really thinking is: when’s the first spring training game and which free agent signing is going to be the biggest bust this year.
Can Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols possibly be worth what they’ll be paid? Will the Washington Nationals actually be good? Can Manny be Manny in Oakland? Is a new home, a new manager and a new shortstop the winning formula in Miami? Will Buster Posey really not block the plate? Don’t know. Batter up!
And before you know it, baseball is back. You’re filling out your brackets and watching the crocus’ poke out of the soil but what you’re really thinking is: when’s the first spring training game and which free agent signing is going to be the biggest bust this year.
Can Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols possibly be worth what they’ll be paid? Will the Washington Nationals actually be good? Can Manny be Manny in Oakland? Is a new home, a new manager and a new shortstop the winning formula in Miami? Will Buster Posey really not block the plate? Don’t know. Batter up!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Vaya con Dios, Dude
About a week ago, Albert Pujols signed a megadeal with the California Angels, or whatever they’re calling themselves this decade. I’m still stunned. Ten years, $240 something million.
For weeks my good friend from St. Louis and I sent notes back and forth about Albert. He’s staying, she said. Ties to the community, charity work, went to high school here, she said. No, I said. He’ll take the money and run. If he was staying he would have signed long ago. He’s gone.
Other than that it didn’t ramify. At the end of this electronic dialog she shot back one last email. And if he does go, she said, vaya con dios, dude. I laughed and privately hoped she was right and Pujols would remain a Cardinal.
But he did go. One of the few guys who had the chance to spend a glorious career with one team in a city that adored him. Cal Ripkin, Tony Gwinn, but not Albert. The St. Louis fans, team and press were unfailingly polite. Pujols’ wife made some ridiculous and ill advised remarks about how the Cards had disrespected him. And then he was gone.
For weeks my good friend from St. Louis and I sent notes back and forth about Albert. He’s staying, she said. Ties to the community, charity work, went to high school here, she said. No, I said. He’ll take the money and run. If he was staying he would have signed long ago. He’s gone.
Other than that it didn’t ramify. At the end of this electronic dialog she shot back one last email. And if he does go, she said, vaya con dios, dude. I laughed and privately hoped she was right and Pujols would remain a Cardinal.
But he did go. One of the few guys who had the chance to spend a glorious career with one team in a city that adored him. Cal Ripkin, Tony Gwinn, but not Albert. The St. Louis fans, team and press were unfailingly polite. Pujols’ wife made some ridiculous and ill advised remarks about how the Cards had disrespected him. And then he was gone.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Starting Pitching, Anyone?
I’m not sure what to call the last meeting of the Cardinals and the Brewers in the NLCS. Calling it baseball is a stretch. Batting practice is closer but doesn’t get at the essence: the Brewers played defense like Chuckles the Clown, and pitched like the umpire was holding a sign that said: “No inside pitches allowed.” The Cardinals shuffled so many pitchers in that I was sure they used a few of them twice.
Whatever happened to good starting pitching? I guess it went home when the Phillies were eliminated despite having the best starters in the game. Instead, in both league championship series, the bullpens took center stage and carried the winners forward.
What this means for the World Series is unclear. The Rangers and the Cardinals both have starters who can shut down hitters and go deep into games. They just didn’t do it in the LCS. Whether we will see a Game 1 that ends 2 to 1 or 10 to 8 is why we watch the games. But with both lineups dripping with sluggers, don’t bet against 10 to 8.
Whatever happened to good starting pitching? I guess it went home when the Phillies were eliminated despite having the best starters in the game. Instead, in both league championship series, the bullpens took center stage and carried the winners forward.
What this means for the World Series is unclear. The Rangers and the Cardinals both have starters who can shut down hitters and go deep into games. They just didn’t do it in the LCS. Whether we will see a Game 1 that ends 2 to 1 or 10 to 8 is why we watch the games. But with both lineups dripping with sluggers, don’t bet against 10 to 8.
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