Here comes your baseball post for August: Evan Longoria burned the Red Sox last night after they decided to pitch to him in the bottom of the 13th inning. Longoria took Takashi Saito over the left field fence, ending a game that lasted nearly five hours, and since it was baseball, it probably felt like, you know, five and a half or so. But seriously, why pitch to the guy that had already homered in the eighth inning?
“With the bases open we had some room to make some pitches,” [Sox manager Terry] Franconca said. “We’ve seen him at his best. I know he’s a great player. Every time they’re in a rally, it seems like he’s right in the middle of it. He seems to start it or finish it.”
“It’s obviously a choice,” [Rays manager Joe] Maddon said. “[Ben] Zobrist also is very good, so you have to make a choice right there. Saito’s got the good breaking ball. Obviously he could have struck Longo out also. It’s just a managerial choice right there.” via.
Also winning with a walkoff of their own: the Chicago White Sox, whose Scott Podsednik singled in the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth. And Pujols had a grand slam in extra innings last night visiting the Mets. But then again, you’d expect Pujols in Queens to be pushed to the limit. I’ll give you a second on that one.
J.C. Romero agrees: that’s a kick-ass headline
Ryan Howard hit a pair of two-run homers, and even starter Joe Blanton clubbed a home run as the Phillies abused the Rays 10-2 to improve their World Series lead to 3-1.
That’s it. That’s my recap. Baseball season started SIX AND A HALF MONTHS ago. And they’ve been playing every goddam day since then. Oh, but in case you haven’t gotten ENOUGH baseball EVERY DAY for the last HALF A YEAR, let’s just go ahead and cancel Sunday Night Football! You’ll excuse me if I can only dedicate one sentence to giving a rat’s ass.
I don’t know if it’s fair to call something boring if you don’t even try to watch it, but I’m not really interested in being fair: this World Series is super-dooper boring. I couldn’t be more thrilled that I didn’t watch the Rays’ 4-2 win last night, because I nearly fell asleep reading the recap. A sample:
Tampa Bay never really got a huge hit, but neither did the Phillies as Jimmy Rollins and crew fell to 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position…
Tampa Bay scored on Jason Bartlett’s safety squeeze and built another rally when Rocco Baldelli walked on a checked swing that seemed to confuse players and umpires alike.
Poor situational hitting! Bunts! Check-swing walks! Hold onto your hats, kids — this wild ride could go seven games!
Game 3 is in Philly on Saturday night, but thankfully, rain is in the forecast. Even God doesn’t want to watch this series.
Evan Longoria’s new at-bat music
Chase Utley clubbed a two-run homer in the first inning, and Cole Hamels pitched seven strong innings as the Phillies took Game 1 of the World Series 3-2. Although the score was close, Rays starter Scott Kazmir consistently had to work his way out of jams, while Tampa Bay’s lineup failed to get a hit after the fifth inning.
Really, only two plays were of moderate interest last night. The first was in the fifth inning, when Ryan Howard ended a Rays threat by reaching into the stands to catch a foul pop-up. Pitiful performance from the home crowd. You gotta let him know that’s YOUR turf. I mean, nobody even tried to stab him. Visiting players don’t get such consideration from Philly fans.
The next inning, Carlos Pena led off and reached on an error by Howard, but was subsequently picked off by Hamels in what may or may not have been a balk, effectively killing the Rays’ inning. Joe Maddon said some bad words on TV to the ump, but to no avail. Yup, that’s right: one of the pivotal moments last night was centered around the question, “Did he or didn’t he balk?” Sometimes, baseball’s almost too exciting.
Those of you that have been following “the baseball” all season know that it’s time for the World Series. The rest of us need a bit of a reminder that the Tampa Bay Rays and some team from Pennsylvania are playing for it all, starting with Game One tonight.
The air-pollutingly-named Cole Hamels will take the mound for the Phillies tonight against the fine Scott Kazmir. Both teams feature an impressive array of power hitting. The Phillies are led on offense by Ryan Howard, who won two thirds of the triple crown this season. The Rays are paced at the plate by Carlos Pena, who led his club with 31 homers and 102 RBIs. Or is it “RBI?” Either way, this game will give me something to do tonight, at least until the feds get me extradited back into the States. Good luck with that, lame duck administration!
Poised to shatter what little enjoyment I get from baseball, the Red Sox instead fell short of their ALCS comeback quest, as the Rays won the decisive Game 7 last night, 3-1.
Series MVP Matt Garza was masterful, allowing two hits and striking out nine in seven innings, but he left with trouble brewing in the 8th. As Joe Maddon went through his bullpen looking to get outs (five Rays pitched in the 8th), he eventually settled on rookie David Price, the 2007 top draft pick/September call-up who began the year in Single-A. Price struck out J.D. Drew with the bases loaded, and at the moment, I became a little gay for him.
You know how Boston fans felt they deserved the 2004 ALCS comeback against the Yankees? Well, the rest of the world deserved this. We deserve to not have to hear about how the Red Sox will always come back, no matter what. This isn’t just a Cinderella worst-to-first feel-good string of cliches for the Rays bandwagon. It’s better: it’s several weeks of silence until the NBA season, when the braying about the Celtics begins.
