Even writing that is to invite the gods to heap scorn and regret down upon your head. But hubris and factual reporting are seated so close to each other now. Okajima is there when Papelbon needs rest or even pampering. Big Papi can be on the bench and the Indians still lose. And, on the same day Youk gets an inside the park home run, there was even that call in the ninth on Monday night when a Cleveland player is struck on the hands, the ball falling into foul territory and yet it is neither a struck batter nor a ball. He is called out on strikes. Why?
Papelbon then got a critical popup to third off the bat of dangerous leadoff man Grady Sizemore. And then came the controversy. Papelbon fired a 1-2 pitch to Casey Blake that appeared to either hit the batter or tip off his bat. Initially, Blake was issued first base. However, after the umpired conferred, it was ruled a strikeout. Even though Blake was hit by the pitch, he also swung. "I don't know," said Papelbon. "It's tough, I only saw one replay of it. That's a tough call. Personally, I thought it hit the bat. But everyone was telling me it hit him on the hand. I guess by the rule he's out. I didn't necessarily see that, to be totally honest. That's the call they made and the call we went with and I had to clear that out of my mind and get the next guy. I'll take any out I can at that point."And so far they are getting those outs. Every night it seems. And the Yankees lose - see today's headline in the NYTs: "Yankees Find a New Way to Lose". By this weekend I suspect the firings will begin in New York as panic really gets a foothold.
Comments
portland - May 30, 2007 9:41 am
you needed to stay up that night. there's an obscure rule that says if you get hit with a ball while trying to hit the ball on a third strike, that's a strike, not a foul or a hit batsman. you're out. he did swing. he was hit. he did foul it off. but he's out. very strange play.
and as for "team of destiny." last year we were all lamenting the fact that we had too much pitching. and look how that turned out. it's a long long season. and there's not much correlation between the play offs and the regular season. it's who has the hot pitching in october.
Alan - May 30, 2007 10:52 am
Yes, and August 2006 was a real lesson. The wheels can just fall off.
Alan - May 30, 2007 12:11 pm
And this will help the Yanks.
Temujin - May 30, 2007 12:36 pm
I can't help but think the Yankees will turn it around and go on an unholy tear. Nonetheless, I'm hoping this slide will continue into 2008 and beyond.
I also feel it my obligation - nay - my duty, to remind everyone that it was you who pointedly described the Jays as a team destined to be fourth. Yet the Jays are currently:
In third place in the AL East.
Six games out of the wild card spot.
Injured players getting healthy.
Scoring runs on stolen home bases.
Care to retract your previous statement, or should I bring it up again in August? :-)
Alan - May 30, 2007 12:39 pm
Fourth is fourth. Scoring run on stolen home base does not equal scoring runs on stolen home bases unless I missed a second squeeze.
Temujin - May 30, 2007 7:55 pm
Plurality added for extra emphasis, of course. Clearly the Jays are destined for third.
Ahhh, sweet third.
Temujin - May 30, 2007 11:41 pm
And might I take this opportunity to state that Alex Rodriguez is a bush-league, selfish, ignorant, childish, weak and feeble piece of garbage.
For the record.
Chris Taylor - May 31, 2007 12:23 am
Pay-Wad might be selfish, ignorant and childish but he is leading the MLB in HRs right now, and he's ranked 29th in the AL Hitting Leaders (and rising). Stats-wise he ain't bad; this decade's talented but loutish Roberto Alomar.
Alan - May 31, 2007 7:28 am
I can't believe the Red Sox lost. That never happens.
Chris Taylor - May 31, 2007 12:14 pm
Matsuzaka got his bell rung for six runs. Apparently he is a mere mortal after all; I am a little disappointed.
Alan - May 31, 2007 12:27 pm
We are now doomed. All bets are off.