I have been sitting here considering what words to put into this space this morning, and having a difficult time making that determination.
First -- let's take the "glass half full" position:
1. Theoretically, we have the far stronger number three and four pitchers in this series, and therefore could, and perhaps should, win the next two games regardless of where they are played. That forces a game five, back at home -- and anything can happen. Odds are that Dempster will never be as bad as he was in game one again.
2. Sabathia lost.
Well, that's it for the "half full" position. Wish there was more. But there is not.
Now, let's look at the "glass half empty" or "glass leaking from crack in bottom."
1. Piniella is being outmanaged by Torre. Period. That's not the reason for everything that is happening, but if you are looking at the little things...it's very true.
2. What's the Japanese word for "stinks?" Whatever it is, Fukudome is that. Nice call playing him. Nicer call leaving him in with two on in the ninth. Anyone else see that whiff coming? How do you say "pathetic" in Japanese? How about his Mark DeCarlo-ian throw home in the eighth? Off the mark on eleven hops. How do you say "fuck me" in Japanese?
3. This belongs in the half full side, but whatever. Zambrano actually pitched a good game, all things considered -- and kept it together when it was falling apart.
4. Why play Fukudome? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?????????????
5. If DeRosa isn't healthy enough to play right then he isn't healthy enough to play second. Even Ron Darling knows that, and he's the biggest idiot ever. Of course he could have played right. He's got four of our 5 rbi's. He's running the bases, for Christ sake. Fontenot would have a.) been a better offensive option vs both Dodger pitchers we've seen, and b.) caught the fucking ball and turned the fucking double play and maybe we have a chance to win the fucking game.
6. Errors are as bad as walks. Worse, even. Look it up.
7. Yes, Lee has a couple of hits, but the important at bats? Terrible. For the most part, this team either has no, or a terrible, offensive plan -- and that continues to kill us. I said this a month ago and will repeat it here because it matters -- we are only a good hitting team versus average or below average pitching and we are a poor offensive team versus good pitching. I said then that we'd be in trouble in the playoffs because everyone in the playoffs has good pitching. Quote from Mike Scioscia today when asked about the Angels lack of offense lately -- "to win in the playoffs you must be able to beat good pitching." Damn. Wish we'd have known that. But the bottom line is that we really don't have a single hitter who is really a great hitter. We have a lot of guys who get their hits vs the dregs of the league and are exposed, year after year, when the playoffs roll around. When will we address that? You think Soriano's average is going to go UP in the playoffs? Come on.
7b. More on that. This is the same team, with the same problems and deficiencies that we saw get swept by the Diamondbacks and we were foolish to think otherwise. Same poor offensive plan. Same impatience and sloppy at bats. Same lack of execution. Why did we think we'd be better this year? Harden? He can't hit. Fukudome? He can't hit, either. How do you say "utter and complete failure" in Japanese? Those are really the only two differences between this year and last year. Yes, Dempster is a starter now. Yes, there are a few minor differences...but really? That's it. Why did we think we'd be better this postseason? Because we are stupid. Thank you very much.
8. Party? I'm not having a party until or unless we get into the next round. No fucking way we have an elimination party at my house. Well...maybe a game five party. We'll see.
9. Is Doc in Cozumel yet? No. Seriously. Is he? Not that I'm superstitious or anything, but GET THE FUCK TO COZUMEL ALREADY.
10. Oh, trust me, there's more...but how do you say "fed up" in Japanese?
best to cb
Sherm
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3 comments:
I have never seen a playoff team play so poorly. Big Z could have thrown 8 scoreless if we make just one of several plays in the second inning. Theriot was not himself, inning one was his thing. A man on second, just hit it to the right side which is his normal swing, or bunt- 3 bad swings for a K. Then Dlee K, cmon get that run in. It was as ugly a game as I have ever seen, and I coached 8 year old little leaguers. It's the weight, maybe the weight is off now that they are given up for dead like the 2004 Red Sox, then again maybe not.
The Curse
The pitcher we did not worry about imploded, while the one we did worry about was very good. The defense that has multiple gold glove candidates in it played like their gloves really were made of metal. Yes they are pressing as they carry the weight of a century(and are reminded of it every nano second)But at some point you have to ask yourself if something more sinister is afoot.
Yesterday I mentioned suicide being a viable option. About the 5th or 6th last night I did it. Well, committed emotional Hari Kari anyway. The Weight lifted almost as soon as I didn't give a shit if every pitch went our way.
Oh, I calculated (as I'm betting most of you did) that with 2 out in the ninth, A Ram would be the tying run, but it was almost dispassionate.
You see, all of us have had worse things happen to us over the last year than this, and I'm tired of feeling kicked in the stomach by one bone headed, nervous, inept disaster after another. So I will be the first to profess that I don't give a shit, I can't ... it's hurts too much, and it shouldn't It really is just a fucking baseball game.
That ought to last until the first pitch Saturday night.
How do you fix this mess. You really can't ask for a better team, you are bound to get one or 2 head cases when you assemble a group of guys most of whom never had formal education, and were pampered, successful athletes all their lives. But, on the whole, no team in MLB has more talent. You probably could have said that about the Yankees over the last few years, but their success has not been much better this millennium. Talent pays off over the long haul, it gets you into the playoffs, but then you become vulnerable to shit happens and the weight makes that unbearable.
Tear it down.
Keep Theriot, Fontenot, Soto, Pie, and Hoffpauir. Trade everyone else.
Incremental improvements have yielded a very tallented team that can't hack the bright lights. Get a bunch of kids who don't know better (Tampa).
Feel better? I don't
Well put. Bravo. I hope you wrote it from your room in Cozumel.
I like it. Dismantle this group. Hard to even say "mantle" in the same sentence as these guys. But keep a few others: Zambrano, Marmol and Aramis. The rest? Gone.
Trade Dempster. His stock will never be higher. Trade Wood. Teams need closers and we have Marmol. Trade Lee. Give Fukudome a sword and a blindfold. Trade Marquis. Trade Daryl Ward to the Brewers. He's fat. They like that up there.
I gave up when Soto lined out in the ninth.
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