Wednesday, August 12, 2009

THINGS ARE GETTING PERSONAL NOW

***FRIDAY NITE FIGHTS @ THE BALLPARK***
It happens every year: My guy gets hit, your guy gets hit. My guy gets hit, your guy gets hit, your second guy gets hit and the fight is on. In the meantime, the umpires begin throwing pitchers out with warnings and without warnings, depending on the "intent" of the pitcher. The Great Kreskin couldn't read minds that well. We've discovered the 'You Hit A Guy, We Give Warnings,' policy was ineffective, so now the umps will throw out a pitcher on the first HBP. The warning policy didn't work because it gave the first pitcher a free shot. Tim Keown of ESPN has his own idea: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/090811&sportCat=mlb

***MIX AND MATCH***
This has become one of Michael Kay's favorite pronouncements. You bring in a lefty to face a left-handed hitter, then a righty to face a right-handed hitter,etc. You see how well that worked last night. The Jays bring in a lefty to face Matsui and Hideki gave us his best Mickey Mantle impression, hitting a long, long home run against the sidearming southpaw. At least Cito Gaston can go into the post-game interview and say, "Hey, I played the percentages." Now listen to AL Leiter: "If you keep parading all these relievers in and out of the game, you are eventually going to run into a pitcher who doesn't have it that night." You might want to consider those odds next time, Cito.

***SOMETIMES THE CLICHE' DOESN'T FIT***
After losing the game in the 15th inning, the other night, Red Sox rookie, Junichi Tazawa, was quoted as saying, "I am honored they gave me a chance to pitch in such an important spot." Uh, no honor there, Junichi, you were the only pitcher left.

***THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ATTITUDE***
Sunday, the Phillies announced they were bringing up Pedro Martinez to start on Wednesday and they were moving 46 year-old Jamie Moyer into the bullpen. Moyer's reaction?
Sunday: No comment
Monday: Jamie said he would try to help the club anyway he could
Tuesday: Jamie is unhappy with his treatment
Wednesday: Jamie is angry with management's decision
Moyer also claimed that he was "promised" that that wouldn't happen. We all know how trustworthy General Managers are. Stick around, Jamie, I can't see Pedro lasting very long.

***SOMEONE IS ON PICASNER'S SIDE***
I have commented in the past my displeasure with the sale of stadium naming rights. I have no objection to re-naming a stadium after someone deeply involved with the team or after the team itself, but I don't like naming stadiums after banks, for example, no matter how appropriate that might seem. I don't like Citi Field, PNC Park, Comerica Park, etc. I may be watching a game at the Great American Ballpark next month. Does anyone know where that is? If you agree with me, there is a way to express your displeasure:

http://www.uniwatchblog.com/1528/

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