Thursday, May 1, 2008

And That Happened

The roundup -- and the rest of the posting schedule -- is going to be a bit abbreviated today, folks. Old man law is beating me over the head and I've reached the point where sheer procrastination isn't going to work anymore. Sorry about that, but I still gotta pay the bills.

Cubs 19, Brewers 5: I usually turn games like these off, but for some reason sat and watched this train wreck. The fourth inning was particularly interesting. No, not because of Geovany Soto's second three-run home run, but because of the conversation between Dave O'Brien, Steve Phillips, and Erin Andrews about Japanese baseball players. They all agreed that there has never been a player come over from the NPB who acted like a prima donna or a head case or anything, and all I could do was shout at my TV that they were forgetting Hideki Irabu.

Dodgers 13, Marlins 1: Another ugly game. Enough has been written about Andruw Jones' struggles already, but the fact that he went 0-3 on a night when the Marlins couldn't get anyone out may be the most telling thing that's happened to him all season.

Pirates 13, Mets 1: Hey, why not one more blowout? More fun with earned/unearned runs: Yes, six of the seven runs the Pirates scored in the second inning came after what would have been out number three was dropped by Luis Castillo and were thus unearned, but at some point Oliver Perez has to get somebody out, right? Same goes for the three unearned runs in the sixth.

Tigers 6, Yankees 2: Pettitte didn't have his best stuff, but that didn't matter inasmuch the Yankees, after getting two quick runs in the first, could only muster two more hits in the next eight innings. New York put Phil Hughes on the DL with a strained oblique muscle. Query: if Hughes had strained his oblique during his start on Tuesday night, wouldn't it, you know, have been a bit more obvious at the time? Perish the thought, but isn't it possible that the Yankees sorta, you know, invented this injury so they could buy some time and not have to either (a) pitch the ineffective Hughes on his next turn; or (b) demote him to Scranton which would be pretty humiliating for everyone involved? Just askin'!

Nationals 3, Braves 2: Braves reliever Manny Acosta walked five guys, which is the sort of thing that makes me happy the Braves aren't on TBS anymore. The Braves are now 3-5 against the Nats this year despite having outscored them 31-28.

Rangers 11, Royals 9: How many more starts like these (3 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 2 BB) until Posnanski gives up the Banny Log? Speaking of Joe, he has what is probably the best, most thoughtful take thus far on the whole Costas-Bissinger-Leitch thing.

9 comments:

Jason @ IIATMS said...

The Hughes injury does look "convenient", doesn't it?

dubbschism said...

I've always thought that the Yankees' "convenient" use of the DL was something straight out of Soviet Russia. Do you think Steinbrenner has one of those Cold War-Era statues of Lenin in his Tampa office? I do. I bet Hughes gets a couple "rehab starts."

Unknown said...

I hadn't even thought of the DL being a ruse for Hughes (hey, it rhymes!)...my initial thought was that a lingering strain might explain his performance. Good point, though...
I was hoping they'd send him down for a couple of weeks, let him clear his head and all, then bring him back (on the road, please!) after a couple of good starts. Now they can do that and save face...nice.

Anonymous said...

APBA Guy-

April's top story: Angels lose Lackey and Escobar, but claim 1st in AL West behind Ervin Santana, 5-0, 2.47 ERA; and Joe Saunders, also 5-0, 2.08 ERA.

Talk about stepping up!

Ron Rollins said...

The Japanese blame Irabu's attitude on the fact that his father was an American service man serving in Japan.

Having been am American service man who served in Asia, I would like to offically state that I am too young to be his father.

Anonymous said...

Wondering why ESPN hasn't hired you yet, you're much more entertaining (and informative) than most of their guys (except Neyer, Olney, maybe Law). You could take up a half legal expert, half analysis guy for them, a hybrid. Then you wouldn't have to worry about a law job taking time away from writing baseball

Craig Calcaterra said...

Mom! I thought we had agreed that you wouldn't keep pimping me like that! For the last time, you're NOT getting 10% of my salary, no matter WHAT I do for a living!

dubbschism said...

uh, I think anon was talking to me, shyster.

Craig Calcaterra said...

You're probably right, dubb. I mean, I haven't actually done any legal work since, oh, March 2007.