The other day when the Madoffs sent Cole to 3rd & Indiana, the optimism in the New Yorkers' clubhouse must have been huge. After all, they had just trumped one of our aces. The fact that the so-called ace had self-destructed was not discussed, and Mgr. Terry Collins probably thought that his team of misfits could make it two in a row with Blanton on the mound for the next game.
Well they almost did it when Blanton melted down harder than a Japanese reactor caught in a tsunami, throwing away a seven run lead. The candystripers were eventually able to prevail when they came back to win the thing, setting up the rubber match yesterday against Doc. We saw how well that worked out for the gang from Queens, leading Collins to talk of "regrouping."
It is still too early to be drinking the Kool-Aid but after his first two outings, Doc is sporting a 0.69 ERA. To me the amazing thing about that is that he didn't have his best shit yesterday by his own admission. That has to scare the rest of the league because if and when he does get it all together he might give us a 1972 Carlton kind of season. He had lots of help yesterday with Polanco and Valdez combining for seven RBI's. Even Superstar is playing fairly well, and he'll need to continue doing so when the guys take on the Braves - a real team with real players.
You need to remember that the first two opponents would not do well in the International League, which is why the Kool-Aid needs to be kept in the jar. The Braves have to remember the seven game lead they had last year that the Phillies were able to overcome, so they may have some extra motivation at game time. The Cliffster takes the ball for the good guys and I'm looking forward to see him mow down the Braves in game one of the series. He'll need to, since the hairdresser is expected to pitch in the getaway game.
PBS has been showing the Ken Burns Civil War thing this week and last night I watched the part about Sherman's march through Georgia. How nice it would be for the candystripers to do a Sherman thing against the Braves. I want no prisoners taken since we haven't taken our full measure of revenge for the shame of Andersonville. I say burn the stadium down on our way out of town!
In yesterday's home opener at PNC park fans from places like Monessen, The Mon Valley, Butler, Turtle Creek, and Squirrel Hill filled the place to capacity as my beloved Pirates took on the Rockies. The Bucs' Paul Maholm gave up a first pitch home run and that was the one black & gold highlight as the Rockies went on to win 7-1. Yesterday's crowd of 39,000 plus could be the largest crowd of the year, and we could see the usual 18 die-hards in the stands today as the Bucs try and rebound to even the series up.
If you're into golf, this weekend will be a big thing for you as The Masters is underway at Augusta National. The only reason for the long suffering fan to watch would be to watch Tiger blow up his game - again. Gone is his arrogance and his swing, and I don't expect to see him make one of his weekend charges to the top of the leaderboard.
I would like someone to answer a question. Why do Jim Nantz and the other broadcasters whisper? Oh, I know they don't want to destroy the concentration of the golfers with "noise," but that just doesn't cut it with me. Think about when someone is on the foul line at crunch time. The noise from the crowd breaks the decibel meter, and fans are waving towels and other things while the guy is about to shoot the free throw. Are golfers so fragile that they can't do what a teenage kid can do at the foul line? Screw them, I say. I want to hear noise from the gallery and the announcers. Perhaps they ought to hire Dick Vitale to do some commentary while some guy with a strange accent is lining up his putt. A loud screech from someone at the exact moment the ball is struck will be a better test than the current silence.
A final point on this ridiculous "sport" - What's with the outfits the golfers wear? Everything is so coordinated. It's as if these people have found an outlet that sells Garanimals for grown ups. Just once I'd like to see one of these guys put on the plaid bermudas and play with their shirts not tucked in like the way most of the rest of the world plays golf. Sometimes I'll see some fat guy on a course wearing a coordinated golf outfit like the tour guys wear. He just looks pathetic, especially when, after he has struck the ball, the divot goes farther than the ball. The long suffering fan has never wanted to play this game, but I've had a lot of laughs watching others do so.
That's it for today. Today is a perfect day for a nap, and that is what I am going to do after I push the send button. Enjoy the game tonight, or listening to Nantz whisper if that's your thing.
No comments:
Post a Comment