Odd Thoughts

Baseball Miscellany

Pitching on 3 Days Rest
In the future I'd like to do a lengthy study and article on this matter, but for now, I just want to say that Ron Gardenhire and Phil Garner both totally wasted their aces by throwing them only five innings. They might as well have just told us they were going to let the bullpen handle this one.

What a Difference a Year Makes, or, Goldenboy
Since 1998, Sammy Sosa has been baseball's goldenboy. He's just that kind-of dumb Latino guy with the tear-jerker life story that made it big in American sports through hard work and a winning smile. The whole baseball world looked the other way when he handled the steriod issue badly and then we just laughed when that silly cork popped out of his bat. But I think he's finally lost it with the most recent incident, in which he left the Cubs finale early, then lied about it, then complained about Dusty Baker blaming him for everything. I don't like Baker at all, but I never heard him say a word about Sammy.

Meanwhile, at this time last year, Manny Ramirez was just a dog. A show-boating weirdo that annoys his opponents and costs his team games with his no-hustle defense. Then the Red Sox are willing to send him packing for nothing in return but there were no takers for Manny and his hefty contract. So what does he do? He puts up an MVP caliber season, in which he's been a strong leader and positive influence, and most critics have said he played the best left field of his career.

Funny how things change.

Red Sox v. Yankees
I don't have a specific love for the Sox, but I do have a specific hate for the Yanks. I could sit here and make a compelling argument for why the Red Sox are a much better team, and why they'll be headed to the World Series for the first time since 1986. But I just believe that the baseball gods are against them, and on top of that, they're in favor of the Yankees. So much so that if the Yankees were only allowed 2 outs on offense, and then played the defensive end without the luxury of gloves, the Yanks still win in seven. I hate it, but thems the breaks.

Posted by chefchuddy at October 11, 2004 11:31 AM