I was meaning to write something here about how much of a mistake it was to start Josh Beckett on three days rest in game 6 of the World Series, and then Carl Pavano, also on short rest, in game 7, if necessary. It was, in my mind, the same mistake the Indians made back in 1997 against the Marlins – starting Bartolo Colon on three days rest in game 6 (and having him not pitch well) and then not having your best pitcher ready for game 7. I really thought they’d be better off throwing anyone else out there tonight, and then having Beckett on full rest, with Pavano on three days out of the bullpen if needed.
Josh Beckett proved me wrong. He threw a seven hit shutout, walked only two batters, and struck out nine on only 107 pitches. This was his second complete game shutout of the postseason, and incredibly, only the second complete game (and shutout) of his career. He’s never thrown a complete game during the regular season, and now has two in the biggest games of his career. The first, with his team down three games to one and facing elimination, and the second to clinch the World Series.
And he’s a year younger than I am. Incredible.
(P.S.: Woohoo! Yankees lost!)
Haven’t had much to say lately. Still don’t really have much interesting, just a bunch of stuff to complain about.
Obviously, I’m not at all happy with the Yankees and Marlins in the World Series. I’m rooting for Marlins, out of hatred for the Yanks, but I’d prefer if somehow neither team won. Unfortunately, that could only happen if the two teams I wanted in there, the Sox and Cubs, made it.
Speaking of the Yankees… well, I ordered a new bowling ball. A plastic spare ball. This one, specifically. The package showed up yesterday, and they accidently sent me this one. ANY other team, except maybe the Braves, I could deal with, but they had to send me the fucking Yankees. I called them this morning, and they’re sending out the right one today.
While I’m on the topic of bowling, I can complain about that, too. I’ve been bowling really badly lately, and I’m not sure why. I somehow managed to average 173 over 4 games last night, but only one of those games was above the 173. I did win that game, and my team did well, despite me. Doesn’t really make it any better, though.
More complaining: The GSM Treo 600 has been delayed. It was supposed to come out 10/13, then 10/20. Latest dates I’m hearing now are 11/03 or 11/24. If number portability was already in effect, I’d probably switch to Sprint now, as the CDMA model is already out. Lucky bastards.
All of these things are pretty minor annoyances, really. There’s something else bothering me more… but I don’t think I want to or should talk about it here. So that’s all you get.
To end on a funny note: Own an Official Piece of ALCS History. Well, not really. The seller ended the auction because the item was lost or broken. I’m guessing broken. [Screenshots: 1 2 for when the auction gets taken down.] Thanks to Jon for sending me the link.
Grady Little made the same mistake as Dusty Baker last night. Left Pedro in two batters too long. Tie game, 5-5, in the 8th.
Fucking managers.
Fuck the billygoat.
Fuck Dusty Baker.
Fuck Steve Bartman.
Fuck Alex Gonzalez.
Fuck them all.
…and I’m not even a Cubs fan. I can’t imagine how they must feel.
I think, just maybe, I’ve been bowling too much. For the first time in a long time, my arm is actually sore and tired after (and actually during) bowling today. I bowled pretty badly, too. So badly I’m not even going to actually tell you my scores. I think I need to go ice my arm like a starting pitcher, or something. Tomorrow night, I play softball, and then I bowl again Wednesday. Then I rest my arm until next Monday.
Yesterday, Josh Beckett pitched the game of his life for the Marlins. His first career complete game, first career shutout. He did it in the biggest game of his life, needing a win to avoid elimination. The Cubs only managed two hits, three baserunners, and none of them got past first base. Cubs still look pretty good to win the series, though, with Prior going tomorrow, and Wood going in game 7 if necessary. The two of them are a combined 4-0 in the postseason.
Tim Wakefield shut down the Yankees with his knuckleball for 7 innings today, and the Red Sox tied up the series at two games a piece. Mussina didn’t pitch badly today, but his record this postseason dropped to 0-3. The Sox really caught a break with the rainout yesterday, as they got to skip Burkett yesterday, get Wakefield today, and get Lowe pitching tomorrow at home. His ERA at home is almost 3 runs lower than it is on the road.
We’re just three wins away from Sox/Cubs. Whatever happens, I want the Yankees to lose.
There have been so many extra inning games this postseason, I’m starting to get sick of them. Well, not really. I love this game.
Cubs lead the Marlins 2 games to 1. Game three ended with a runner who was only on base because of a dropped third strike getting caught in a rundown and tagged out because the third baseman couldn’t field the ball cleanly. The runner didn’t really do anything wrong, he just got screwed. Not that I’m complaining.
5 wins to go for Cubs/Sox Series.
With the Cubs and Red Sox both winning last night, we’re now just six wins away from the end of the world a Cubs/Red Sox World Series.
I woke up at around 8:15 yesterday morning, and starting getting ready to go to work. At about 8:30, I got an IM from a friend up in Sunnyvale telling me someone had just cancelled on him and he had an extra ticket to Game 5 of the Red Sox/A’s Division Series. I responded wish “I wish I could go”, and then showered and went to work.
At work, I got on IRC and on PB, like I always do in the morning, and chatted with people for a few minutes. I jokingly mentioned that a friend of mine had an extra ticket and I should skip out on work and drive up for the game. Everyone, without fail, told me there was no way I could miss that game. After about an hour of debating it, I was convinced. I made sure he still had a ticket available, went back home to pick up a few things, and then started the drive to Sunnyvale.
The drive, unlike most drives I talk about here, was not uneventful. A little more than halfway there, someone changed lanes right into me, and sent me spinning out over the grass onto the other side of the highway. I was able to get back in control, and pull off onto the grass, but it all happened to fast I didn’t get a license plate or even know what color his cartruck or SUV was. He didn’t stop. So the moral of the story here is don’t skip out on work on a holy Jewish holiday to go to a playoff baseball game. No wait, that’s not it. Oh yeah: Always wear your seatbelt. Luckily, I was fine. My car has some damage, but it’s still drivable, and I’m alive and uninjured.
The rest of the drive was uneventful. 🙂
I pulled into the NetApp parking lot around 2:30 and by 3:00 we were heading out to the stadium. The game was incredible. Barry Zito vs. Pedro Martinez. The final game of the Division Series. A called third strike with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of ninth inning to end the game. I couldn’t have asked for any more. For the first time in a very long time, I actually kept score at a game. I even made it through the whole game, getting every pitch (I checked with espn.com when I got home, all my Pitches-Strikes numbers were right). Click on the image at the left for a readable version of it.
After the game, I drove back to Santa Barbara. I got in around 3:30, but didn’t get to sleep until 5. Then I was up again this morning at 8am to vote in the crazy recall election, get an estimate on the car damage, and then get to work. But it was worth all eight and a half hours of driving, another two hours as a passenger in a car, and getting into an accident, to go to the game. I’m really glad I went. I’m still sort of in shock that I actually went. I’m completely nuts.
Damn, I love this stuff. Most of my free time lately has been spent watching playoff games, and there have been some good ones. Just now I watched John Burkett with the bases loaded and nobody out (and one run already in) get three straight popups to the infield, and keep any more runs from scoring. The A’s starter, Tim Hudson, has just come out of the game with an injury in the second, so the Red Sox chances of winning this game just went up a whole lot. Recovering from sports injury might require hospital bed for comfort. You can explore SonderCare Adaptive Surfaces for professional-grade home recovery and support. A medical negligence attorney Visalia will guide you through the complexities of your case, advocating for your rights. The only reason they’re even still alive in the series (now down 2 games to 1) is because of bad baserunning mistakes by the A’s last night, and a walkoff homerun by Trot Nixon in the bottom of the 11th. Good stuff. The end of the first game of the series was just as cool, the A’s winning on a bases loaded bunt single in the bottom of the 12th.
The other series that was great was the Marlins/Giants series. They split the first two games, the Giants taking the first game on a complete game shutout by Jason Schmidt. The Marlins took game 3, down to their last out in the bottom of the 11th, on a two run single by Pudge Rodriguez. He drove in all four Marlin runs that game, two in the first inning, and two in the last inning. Then they won game 4, and the series, with Pudge holding on to the ball on a play at the plate for the last out of the game. Amazing ending.
Hopefully the Twins can even up the series against the Yankees today and then take it tomorrow, and the Cubs can finish off the Braves. Kerry Wood against Mike Hampton should be a good matchup.
I love playoff baseball.
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