Wednesday, October 02, 2013

IT'S THE 'EXCITEMENT' TIME OF THE YEAR

## You only needed to watch one half inning of baseball last night, to see that the Pittsburgh crowd was into it. I mean really into it. Although pitcher Johnny Cueto, manager Dusty Baker and all the rest of the Cincinnati Reds (and Annie-O) denied it, the crowd did get to Cueto. He maintained a staid look on his face, but his pitches belied his somber demeanor. Unlike a Duke basketball crowd, who gets personal with their taunting, the Pirate fans just chanted his name. The Bucs are riding a high horse of emotion right now.

I think Dusty Baker managed the game like it was the regular season instead of a one-and-done situation. He left Cueto in too long. What are you saving the bullpen for? After the 2nd home run, it was obvious Cueto was struggling with his command. It was time for a change and Dusty didn't make it. Game over.

## I don't think you'll see Joe Madden or Terry Francona make the same mistake tonight. This game is a toss-up. Cleveland's on a roll, but Tampa always seems to find a way to win without relying on a big superstar, although Evan Longoria could certainly qualify for that title.

## Texas disappointed their fans again, but management has found the cause and dealt with it. They fired their first base coach. This makes no sense. Wouldn't you be better off firing the third base coach? He's the guy that didn't send enough runners home. All the first base coach has to do is congratulate a player for getting on base and collect the various shin guards they wear. Was some of the equipment missing? Doesn't he know all the complicated handshakes? What happened?

## There is a report, denied by A-Rods entourage, of course, that A-Rod claims that he thought the drugs he got from the Biogenesis lab were legal. Haven't we heard this one before? Was A-Rod's cousin working there after A-Rod had to separate himself from him? You just knew this wasn't going to be a high-minded, sophisticated situation from the beginning.

***THEY SAID IT***
"Also a result of the shutdown, the Air Force-Navy football game may not be played. Even if it is played, a private citizen will have to donate a coin for the opening flip."  -- Brad Dickson
"Sunday’s Raiders game has been pushed back to 8:30pm due to the A’s playoff game on Saturday. Supposedly it takes over 24 hours to remove the sewage from the baseball game and replace it with fresh sewage for football."  -- TC Chong
"A Pittsburgh win in October? Since when did they start Tuesday Night Football?"  -- Janice Hough
"What a perfect Northwest sports weekend, Huskies win! Seahawks win! Mariners’ season ends!”  -- Tim Hunter
"Four NFL centers are endorsing a new line of moisturized men's butt wipes. I can picture that phone call from a player's agent. "Hey, I got you an endorsement deal." "What am I gonna endorse -- a men's hair care product, an automobile?" "You better sit down."  -- Brad Dickson
"The NFL fined Panthers QB Cam Newton $10,000 for using a non-approved manufacturer visor clips on his helmet. Clipping penalty? No kidding."  -- Dwight Perry
"Lions receiver Nate Burleson broke his arm when he crashed his car while trying to save a couple pizzas from sliding off his front seat. Making him the first football player ever stopped by just two in the box."  -- Dwight Perry
"I’m not sure what to say about Funny Car driver Courtney Force's nude photo in ESPN's The Body issue. May the Force be with me?"  -- RJ Curry
"A jury has been seated in Mark Cuban's insider-trading case. It doesn't look good for Mark. The jury includes three NBA refs."  -- Brad Dickson

CP-
 








No comments: