10.03.2008

ALDS Ump'n: C.B. Bucknor in the Hizzy, "PitchZoneTracker" Ain't





In that at bat I just watched in the 8th Inning of the Rays/Sox Game Two, there were several interesting pitches called strikes by home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor (54) during the Nick Swisher at-bat, which ended in a strike out after starting with a 3-0 count.

After 3-0, there was a nice pitch that caught the outside corner. Then a pitch (see picture) that appeared quite high for what usually passes for a MLB strike, but was called a strike. Now it's 3-2.

Bucknor is known for a generous strike zone and my personal assessment agrees with that. He tends to push the borderline pitches to strike calls. Eventually, he punched Swisher out on a pitch that looked outside, leading to a spirited debate between batter and ump.

The announcing team (which includes Harold Reynolds, thank goodness he's back) noted how a pitcher earns strike calls by hanging around the zone. The ump gets used to calling strikes and continues to do so as the game wears on and the pitches drift.

I would call attention to a few points. First, Swisher did himself no favors by taking a starting step toward first after he hit 3-0. It annoys the umpire (A) and (B) causes your strike zone to lengthen if you're being technical.

And this leads to calls like the 3-1 pitch, which was the one that seemed to be most startingly "up". In fact, it was a brilliant call by Bucknor, calling the zone Swisher offered.

As you can see, the pitch is notched as "high" by the "PitchZoneTracker" dealy, and from where Swisher was standing when the pitch was first thrown, it was right. But Swisher did something interesting as this high pitch crossed the plate...he stood up straight.

The zone is a moving target, the area from the hollow of the knee to something resembling half the distance from the belt to the shoulders...and the plate. As you can see, Swisher stands up and makes this pitch within that zone. A lot of umpires would have given up on the pitch (like Swisher) and make the "ball" call in their heads before it even hit the glove. But Bucknor took his time, watched it in and kept his bearings on the batter. Impressive.

This also leads to a criticism of the "PitchZoneTrackerStrikeZoneGraphic" deal that is gaining favor around the networks. First off, the strike zone is three dimensional, so this 2D square doesn't make much sense. Second, the strike zone is ever-changing based on the stance of the batter as he addresses the ball...but the box seems to be the same size for everyone. Not entirely useful product, but fun to look at.

7.13.2008

Taking In the Field





Anyone who doubts the magic of baseball should have been on the Dodger Stadium field last night to watch postgame fireworks. I can't remember the last time I've seen so many giddy people in one place.

Before and after the spectacular, thousands of grown men and women — including me, Hudson, Al Toby, and Adam Graham — ran around the outfield, played games of catch, took pictures, and did pushups (Adam, Mike, and Al). Everyone bent down to run their hands over the immaculately clipped grass and scoop up a bit of warning-track dirt (the sod under the grass is just soft enough for a game-saving, diving catch; the warning-track dirt is surprisingly rubbery). Al pointed out the foul lines were painted on the grass, while I couldn't help kick up the chalk on the dirt. While bending down to smell the grass (I did it at least twice), I noticed that someone had cut out a golf-ball-size trophy for himself. A kid who had succeeded at his gymnastics lessons did back flips and somersaults.

I pantomimed catching a fly ball and gunning down a runner at home. I also stretched into the stands for a pop-up and then quickly relayed the ball back to second to hold the runner. And — this is what I'm most proud of — I slid hard, leaving a grass stain that I hope never comes out of my jeans.

6.26.2008

Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Last Place Cleveland Indians

I am one pissed-off season-ticket holder. All I can say is, "One hit? One goddamn hit?!"

These guys are flailing away like a roomful of Dave Kingmans. I can't believe that they can't score; they can't hit; they can't shoot HGH anymore ... It's despicable.

I've missed more games than I've gone to this year -- mostly because I'm traveling and planning a wedding (my own). But this team is completely uninteresting.

I went to the game where Omar Vizquel returned to Cleveland, and his first at-bat -- an at-bat for a guy hitting .171 at the time -- was the highlight. Un. friggin. believeable.

I'm beside myself. Really.

Who wants some tickets to the Prog?!?!?

6.19.2008

Dodgers draft pick probably inbred

1. He's from Georgia.
2. Members of his family think they can get away with this.
3. I am pretty sure instant replay will be necessary. Here you go:

6.11.2008

Who in the hell is Jeff Larish ?

6.03.2008

To me, they will always be DEVIL RAYS


I hope they win it all. Best team in the AL. Believe It !

5.28.2008

Ump'n Around: Now THIS is an Official Gaffe


You owe me a cold one, Mr. Joyce.


ANAHEIM, Calif. -- In the two-man umpiring system...the one you see in most minor-league and high school games...it often feels like baseball is the fastest game on Earth. How could a game that looks so simple, that you've spent thousands of hours watching and a few hundred playing all of a sudden look so foreign; you're like a tourist trying to score breakfast with only"Kornokova" and "EZ Russian for Dummies" to guide you through a quick-talking and impatient shopkeep while two dozen glaring eyes burn you for holding up the line.

Why? Because in two-man, your positioning is the most important thing on your mind. Whatever happens, you have a responsibility for a part of the field and the added responsibility of getting your posterior to a certain piece of real estate. And everything changes depending on the hit, a guy on first, a guy on third, a guy on first and third...at times, you're so happy you hit your spot and claimed your field that you forget to even pay attention to the call you were supposed to be making (cough, cough).

Sure, after a while it becomes natural for the pros. And in the Majors, you even get two more dudes to help out. But positioning and responsibilities remain the first priority for umpires once a ball is in play.

Tonight's Angels-Tigers game provided an example of why this is so...an example of an extremely rare occurence that the MLB umps warned us campers about to no end...don't make a call that isn't yours. If you're at third, don't call a guy safe at first. If you're at second, don't call a play at the plate.

These are obvious, but on the lines, it can get tricky. Balls down the lines are the Home Plate umps call to the base, then they transfer to the baseline ump. Several times at camp we'd get caught excitedly calling a ball fair or foul down the line when the call belonged to our partner. No big deal...so I called it fair before he did. So what?

Quothe the Instructors:

"That's great...until you're at a ballpark full of fans and you've got your arms up because you saw it foul and about 10,000 people start screaming and you look over and see your partner calling it fair. That's not a situation you want to be in."

This grounder went beyond 3rd, and the call belonged to Ump Fav Tim Tschida (4). He called it fair and Detroit's 3B easily threw the runner out. But...uh oh.


"Looks like a dammed Village People concert out there!" -- Possible Clever Comment From Leyland

Home Plate Ump Jim Joyce (66) saw it differently, much to the upset of James Leyland. To his credit, Tschida took it like a pro and managed to exhibit only a mild look of annoyance having been shown up by his partner (see top photo...classic!). Fortunately for everyone, the batter was out two pitches later and all was peaceful in baseball land. But if he had hit a dinger and started a rally. Mama Mia! Like I said, THIS is a real error of officiating and because these guys are so gulldang good, it is extremely rare to see.


POSTSCRIPT: True to form, the announcers brought up instant replay on this play, though not terribly passionately as they were the Angels team. "These kind of plays might one day be up for review," one talker said.

No it wouldn't. Once a foul signal is given, the play is dead. There would be no fair way of overturning the call. And replay is stupid anyway.

new depths

while you guys debate the future of baseball, i've gotten to the bottom of a bigger story.

5.27.2008

Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for No Replays

Inspired by Craigory Schmidt, here we go...

(Executive Summary: MLB should fix the bizarre set-up of ballpark fences/foul poles instead of falling into a trend of adopting replay technology that only adds to the controversy and takes away from the game itself.)

If anyone here watched the Lakers/Spurs Game 4 on TNT just a few minutes ago, the case not only against replay but against this obsession of TV and Radio to nitpick calls speaks for itself. Long story short, the Lakers won by two...the last play involved contact between Derek Fisher (laker) and Brent Barry (Spur) that could have, but was not called a foul.

As the game ended, Doug Collins of the TNT crew spoke of nothing but the non-call. On the LAKERS broadcast, there was little discussion of much else. The post-game on TNT was about nothing but the non-call.

So you'd imagine the Spurs players and coaches would be livid given such a controversial call.

Pop: "If I were the ref, I wouldn't make that call."
Duncan: "They're not going to make that call."
Barry: "No. That isn't going to get called."

So if the OTHER TEAM doesn't even care, where exactly is the controversy? In the fan's minds, that's where...thanks to the laziness of the telecasters, who in lieu of actual analysis, look to stir up the emotions of the still-raw fans. Why? So they'll watch the post-game! Call in and talk about it! Indeed, Lakers fans had already come up with their arsenal of "bad calls" that hurt their team through the game. It's a bunch of garbage that has nothing to do with who won and why. Dissecting a professional game in any sport is hard. It requires a lot of thought, caution and professionalism. Putting a last minute call into question is much easier. (and more sexy, because any boob with an opinion can play this game.)

POINT #1 -- Replay solves nothing. Controversy will always exist because it is easy pickings for analysts.

Evidence: Are there fewer arguments over calls in College Football or NFL these days?

Unfortunately, the discussions of calls are put in dire terms by play-by-play teams, when they often have a loose if not outright incorrect understanding of the rules. The strike zone, for instance, is not a static area...it is a changing shape determined by the stance of the batter. A catch isn't a catch until the ball is successfully transfered out of the glove. Doubtful many fans or announcers could put these concepts to words or practice. That doesn't stop them from trying to make snap judgements about whether a call was right or not (I've never heard an announcer say, "You know, I don't really know that how that rule goes.") NOTE: The great announcers didn't and don't waste much time with this nonsense. They would just say, "That's a close call at first" or similar.

Which leads to point #2:

Point #2: The real issues is no one understands the rules beyond the officials.
Evidence: Did you watch ESPN's saturation coverage of all these "blown" HR calls?

ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball featuring the Mets v. Yankees was the starting point for this current rush to install replay in MLB. A deep fly ball to left tailed out near the foul pole, took a wicked turn off something and went into the crowd. At least 20 replays of this ball were shown in the next hour, with neither announcer noticing the ball actually hit the top of the wall before hitting the corner of the foul pole (which was strangely painted black at the bottom in Yankee Stadium). So the 3rd Base ump called it right as a HR, but asked for backup. The three others thought it was foul, so he changed his call. The Mets won by like 10, but that didn't stop ESPN from acting like this was the biggest mistake in the history of professional officiating.

Would replay have solved this? Maybe. But attention would then only turn to calls at first, plays at the plate, borderline catches, etc. A HR barely getting over the wall or being foul or being a double is really no more or less important than a close third strike call with two outs. So who cares? This solves nothing. ESPN will still focus on stirring up controversy and the replay will solve none of it.

The week following, each SportsCenter featured a BRAND NEW controversial HR call or non-call. The funny thing is, I watched them all and honestly couldn't call 80 percent of them. I don't know the ground rules for those stadiums. Sometimes the wall is in, sometimes not, sometimes the line is on top of the wall, sometimes three inches under, sometimes above the wall.

I know this might sound a bit, uh, logical, but if what you're really after is clear HR calls...FIX THE STUPID WALLS SO THE BOUNDARIES ARE CLEAR. Each stadium -- especially these new ones -- has some jacked up outfield boundaries to give the place personality, while at the same time compromising clarity as to what is or is not in play. Seems to me, you could pretty easily paint a line of yellow atop all walls, and push any structures that are out-of-play further back from the in-play area to prevent this. This is the Big Leagues. It's like if in the NBA you had the shot clock in a different position and a bunch of stairs perched atop the backboard in Phoenix, but then a restaurant behind the glass in NY. It's silly. Push that garbage back 5 feet and this would never come up again. Put a little netting basket along each wall if you like. And as for the foul pole...these calls get made correctly all the time. This one at Yankee Stadium is a direct result of the bizarre wall set-up, where the wall comes in three feet ahead of the foul pole, which is also strangely painted black at the bottom, unlike the rest of it.

Or, we could just waste time and energy instituting a new replay system that will only lead to more nitpicking of calls and ultimately slow the game down to a bareknuckled crawl...all to feed the addiction of the ESPN generation, which will spend days and days arguing about whether a play was called correctly or not -- yet never actually understanding the rules they are so adamently debating. This is not a solution to anything...just ask the NFL, or watch a College Football game with the ESPN crew and honestly tell me replay has helped the game.

5.22.2008

There's No Replay In Baseball

At least...not yet. I'm sure most could guess where I come down on this story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3408154

The Incredible Shrinking Gagne

This is a photographic representation of Gagne's career...



2004


2008

Legend: One is considerably smaller, less interesting and looking to be over...

5.17.2008

Lotsa Goodness in Tigs v. Diamondbacks -- Bunts, Rules and Jonesy

If the Tigers are a legitmate contender, their performance in Phoenix might just be the first evidence we've seen. The Diamondbacks are the real deal so far this season, and the Tigs have played them very strong for two straight. Losing a squeaker yesterday and winning their first "solid" game I've seen. 3-2. Well done.

In fact, this was their first win in over 40 games when they've scored 3 or less.

Better than this, however, was a rules quirk I learned today about bunters. In the 8th Inning, the Diamondbacks got Stephen Drew on as the leadoff guy. Hudson then came up to bunt him into scoring position. On a 2-1 count, Hudson pops up the bunt. Pudge lets it drop and the Tigs ended up with a double play. (See pics below)


Pudge lets the pop drop...as Hudson stews at his mistake.


...and picks off Drew who was in a pickle at first to start the 2-4-3 DP.

Turns out, a batter attempting a bunt loses the protection of the infield fly rule. I've seen a lot of popped up bunts, but never saw this. And I certainly didn't know the rule, making my decision to leave the gray pants in the closet a wise one. So many awesome rules!

Better yet, Todd "The Cooler" Jones came in, hit the leadoff guy in the 9th and had his usual high-wire act ending up getting the final out in Maggs glove on the right field warning track. Which inspired this celebration on his part, paying homage to his teammates who have started wearing high socks as a "team" thing. Jones reports he doesn't own a pair of high socks. (Yes, those are NBA logo socks)



It's been a long journey to get here. It started poorly back in '01. Not a big fan. And it wasn't great in '06. Then at some point in the postseason, with a playoff game against the A's in the balance -- bases loaded with the Big Hurt batting -- I realized he is perhaps the most even keeled baller I've ever witnessed. Last year, after giving up two runs and loading them up with the game on the line, he got the last out and did a mock "fade-away jumper" pose. This year, he's just taking his shirt out the moment the game is over. Yes, we've had our moments. But now, so many years later, I love Todd Jones.

5.14.2008

George Sherrill's Shelf-Like Cap Bill Demands Your Attention


Not sure if any of you have seen ex-Mariner George Sherrill closing for the Orioles this year. Gaines and I caught him in action a few nights ago. He's a terrific pitcher, but that's not the subject of this post; more remarkable than any of his pitches is his lid. We've seen certain guys wear their caps flat in the past, managers especially. But Georgie takes it to a whole new level. According to his statements to the press, he simply wears it exactly as it is when they hand it to him. But honestly, it looks like he either irons it with a ton of starch or, perhaps, has replaced the standard bill with one made of plywood. It's deep! I hope the always entertaining Uni Watch tackles this hot topic soon. The above picture doesn't really do it justice, so tune in and watch Sherrill pitch.

5.13.2008

Tiger Batters Have No Clue Which End Is Up


I hope Mr. Ilitch sells a whole lotta pizzas because at this point he will need to make up for his piss poor investment that everyone under the sun thought was a sure thing.

They were slapped tonight by a triple A baseball team that should have been contracted 5 years ago. Edgar Renteria still thinks he is the World Series hero from over 10 years ago when all he needed to do was throw the ball to first instead of a flashy pitch in the middle of the diamond that allowed the winning run to score. Curtis Granderson whiffs like he's never seen an off speed pitch before. And a better than quality start by Nate Robertson was wasted.

I know it is May 13, but for the first time I am feeling a shred of doubt. I wonder if Leyland can spare any extra heaters these days.

Quartermark: Hud's List of Thinkie

1. Andruw Jones is pretty much living up to my "hunch". I still wouldn't have guessed he'd be 70 pounds heavier than his rookie year.

2. Tigers being a really bad team is stunning. Lots of folks are acting as though this somehow makes sense (read Lynn Henning's case for starting pitching being the culprit and suggesting the Tigs may not be much better than a .500 team). The only reason this isn't #1 is that I've had time to digest it. I'd argue there is no explanation for this team...it just isn't reasonable for them to be losing at every chance they get -- if you just watched E. Renteria put the go-ahead run across for the Royals with an error tonight, you know what I mean. It has nothing to do with talent, tough-luck or any of that. It has to do with a lack of presence of mind in key situations (at bats, defense, pre-game prep) that stems from a failure of leadership. At this point, the Detroit Tigers are worse together than they would be apart. They are a failing team.

3. Marlins -- These guys are fun to watch! Maybe management will figure out a way to rip this team's heart out before the All-Star Break?

4. Boston is gull-dang good.

5. Even T. Hunter hasn't made me enjoy the Angels. The OC can tug a horse for all I care.

5.11.2008

HOLY COW

Rick Ankiel might have forgotten how to pitch, but he can still throw strikes. Good Lord:

5.09.2008

Saw This One Coming: Jim Edmonds Cut Loose


When not frat-boying with the bar crowd, the Padres' Jim Edmonds has been spending his 2008 muffing fly balls and striking out a whole bunch. After sitting a game, pinch-hitting into a ground out after a double-switch, apparently Bud Black & Co. had seen enough.

It was strange watching Edmonds (the bane of Edmunds.com's existence, BTW) this year. I knew he had annoyed the Cardinals to the point of being let go, if I'm remembering correctly. But I definitely remembered that unbelievable knack for catching balls hit over his head or out of reach BEHIND him in the outfield. He really was automatic on those. And his bat was pretty impressive, too, standing for a time as one of the power threats of the Pujol's Era St. Lunatics.

But, it just didn't happen this year. I chalked it up early to playing Center in such a massive ballpark, but I guess it just wasn't too be. Adios, Jim. You made some of the best catches I've ever seen.

5.06.2008

Darn You Boys: Why DET Sucks to Watch

The Year of 1,000 Excuses?


There's no beating around the bush on this one...I hate watching the Tigers play so far in 2008. In fact, you might say I haven't found this level discomfort on my couch with the Olde English "D" on the screen since the horror of 2003. There's some magic, but there's more phoned-in effort than is statistically possible. Errors are losing games. Starting pitching offers a quality start once every 9 games or so. Worst of all, the 2007 team was shut out 3 times. I'm pretty sure this team has close to 5 or 6 already...and MLB pitching has not improved quite that much in the off-season.

It is important to note that being schitzo is a Tiger tradition dating back to the Magical Season of 2006, when the same team that dominated the Majors from April to July took a gigantic flop to end the year, dropping a series against the awful KC Royals at home to eventually lose first place in their division on the very last day of the season. And last year, the Tigs played great and flubbed down the stretch and against division rivals to miss a return trip to the post-season. And despite all this, I enjoyed watching the Tigers more than ever. (I also love watching the Dodgers, despite similar underachieving fates in a few recent seasons.)

So what's different this year? That would be a payroll of $130 million, a lineup of three or more Hall of Famers, darn-near double digits of All-Stars and a preseason swagger worthy of the Bronx Bombers.

Who knows what will happen. But the scrappy, loveable Tigs are getting perilously close to turning in a pathetic, Country Club-type season of elitist moping. They're not just underachievers, they're starting to look like wimps. And that is something that just won't fly in Motown...or in Glendale, where I chose to spend my Extra Innings feed elsewhere.

5.01.2008

A Great Day for Title Town


Yes, as silly as it is for a locality to claim it is somehow better than another at professional sports...this was a great day for Detroit.

  • The Tigs swept the Yankees @ the Stadium for the first time since 1966
  • The Pistons crushed the Sixers to advance in the NBA Playoffs
  • Least...but not if you were around in the 90s...the Red Wings CRUSHED the Avs, 8-2, to complete a Stanley Cup Playoff sweep
This is off-topic, but it does relate. Baseball is my biggest sport...by far. The Tigers are my biggest team. However, as far as teams that I despise...none (even the University of Michigan football team) can approach the bizarre loathing I hold to this very day toward the Colorado Avalanche because of the rivalry sparked by Claude Lemieux's hit on Kris Draper that nearly killed ol' Drapes.

I don't give two rips about hockey these days (I was a modest fan even at my heights). But there's no team I like to see beaten more than the Avs. For a quick refresher course (or for those newbies, a short course) watch the following few minutes of YouTubes. For the one with the Filter song, I apologize as it is a bit overwraught...but if you were watching back from the D in the late-90s, you'll probably still get chills from the 1997 Easter Massacre footage as CL gets beaten, Darren McCarty seals his status as local hero, Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon...goalies...square off, and pints and pints of Colorado's finest are collected on the Ice of Joe Louis. (And the Wings pinched 'em later that year in the Playoffs 4-2...hee hee!)

Motown!


Why Detroit Hates the Avs (:30 to 1:25)

Lemieux, a known cheap-shot artist, nearly kills Kris Draper by blind-siding him into the sill of his bench...earning him a suspension



The Full, Uncut 7 Minutes (if you really like the nuance)

Some 300 days later, the Wings had waited until the Avs were on their home ice to exact revenge upon Lemieux & Co. Claude gets knocked nearly unconscious by Darren McCarty and requires assistance off the ice. The goalies end up fighting along with Shanny, Malts and nearly everyone else.



The "Easter Massacre" of '97...to Music (So Best! 1:38 to 2:20 stand up there with any championship moment in most Detroiters minds)

Same thing, but showing that the Red Wings fans are metal nerds. I still like watching it, tho. You get to see McCarty also take down Adam Deadmarsh...and then score the winning goal in OT on Roy. Oh baby!

4.28.2008

More of this to come...


A good-looking crowd.

"A classy guy who, one day, had just had enough."



Twenty five years ago Tuesday afternoon, manager Lee Elia retreated to the clubhouse following his Cubs' fifth loss in 19 games to open the season.

He hung up his hat and jersey, sat down and leaned his chair back against the wall.

Cub (lowercase) reporter Mark Giangreco lit Elia's cigarette. The 45-year-old rookie skipper took a long drag and kicked his feet up onto his desktop.

Giangreco and fellow scribe Les Grobstein fired up their tape recorders. And Elia let.er.rip.

Pound-for-pound this has to be the best managerial meltdown on record; an unmatched mix of rage, verve, inventiveness, spontanaiety, sociology(!) and fatalism.

Local comemoration here, here and hackneyed provincial preenster here.
*
I'm a big fan of the Lasorda rant following Dave Kingman's three-homer performance in either 1976 or 1978, but it it has an air of calculation to it. And he actually apologizes toward the end of it - major minus points.

This one re: Kurt Bevacqua is pretty awesome too, but if the reporters are laughing at you, it just doesn't carry the same weight. It's like if Santa Claus had a meltdown or something.

4.21.2008

Ump Talk: Check Swings...How the Pros Call it

The Question: If you're like me, you've probably always been a bit confused as to why Umps call some check swings swings, and others checks. Well, that's because it's up to Umpire's discretion. (Read: there is no mechanical litmus test for a swing or no swing call.)

The Conventional Wisdom: To hear the TV folks (and most MLB players/coaches for that matter) tell it, this call comes down to a jamboree of cliches like "did he go around" and things about the batter "breaking his wrists" or "breaking the plane of the plate" with the bat. Better yet, since judging whether the batter's bat "went around" is difficult from the home plate Ump's position, we get the drama of the catcher "appealing" to the 1st or 3rd base Ump. So we get that satisfying picture in our minds of the catcher heroically appealing with his glove pointed down the basepath...and then a spirited safe or strike call if the bat swung across the plate. And then we get 2 or 3 replays from the dugout camera to see if the call was correct. Sound about right?

The Latest Example: Well, that's how I always thought it went down, but in reality...that's not the case. Indeed, these rules of thumb we've all heard can often predict the call the 1st or 3rd base Ump will make -- but not all the time.

If you were watching the Cubs v. Mets game on ESPN tonight, Mark DeRosa (2B, Cubs) got hot and bothered about a call like this. He checked his swing as the pitch crossed the plate, but was punched out by home plate Ump Angel Hernandez (55). DeRosa said some choice phrases on his way back to the bench, asking for a second opinion from down the 1st Base line. Hernandez waived him off and reiterated his call.

The TV booth guys all wondered:

1. DeRosa didn't appear to go around, so why was it a strike?
2. Why didn't Hernandez allow the appeal on such a close call?


The Explanation: The answer is that Hernandez had no reason to get the second opinion for the call he made. The test as to "swing or no swing" is whether the batter made any attempt to strike the ball. So listen up, batters...holding up after the fact won't necessarily save you.

Bat is back as the pitch reaches the plate. (click to enlarge)


Hips open, bat checked as ball is in the glove.


1. As you can see from the pics, DeRosa checks his swing pretty much WHILE the ball is crossing the plate. From this angle, it appears DeRosa was pretty well fooled on the pitch and made the decision to hold up when he realized he wouldn't be able to make contact...and he indeed held up the swing and perhaps didn't go around.

Can't get in his head, but it seems the Home Plate Umpire saw a well-timed attempt at the pitch (see how DeRosa is still moving his bat forward as the ball crosses the plate). It doesn't matter whether his bat "goes around" in this case. It really doesn't matter if he's within a nautical mile of hitting the ball. All that matters is if the Umpire believes the batter made an attempt to strike the ball. The rule is made this way to protect a pitcher who makes a good pitch against a batter who is only checking his swing because he misjudged the pitch so badly.

2. Why no appeal? Because it is the Home Plate Ump's call to make. Despite the oft-mentioned catcher "appealing" a call up the line, only the Plate Ump can pass the call to the 1st Base or 3rd Base Ump. The appeal is available TO HIM because the Home Plate Ump is tasked with the all-important ball-or-strike judgement call. He often doesn't have the bandwidth to be fooling around with judging an attempted swing and needs help from time to time. (Don't forget, if the pitch is a strike, the swing or no swing doesn't matter...which is, of course, the reason the Home Plate Ump focuses on that call.)

In this case, the pitch was likely an EASY ball call, allowing Hernandez to get a look at the swing. And with a good look, it's pretty easy to tell DeRosa made an attempt to strike the ball...a ball he realized he wouldn't be able to get around on a split second too late.

4.18.2008

Trend watch: Reds booth crammed with asses

This time it's Jeff Brantley's turn to play straight man while Marty Brenneman aurally implodes.

This video is too meta for me to comment. Except to wonder how a cranky butthead like this gets into the Hall of Fame (my feelings re: The Cub fans go without saying):

4.17.2008

A Fat Man Pitched Batting Practice

Detroit fans, rejoice!

Your hometown Tigers will face C.C. Sabathia at least three more times, and given the fat man's performance last night, your team might meet its bonus clauses in those three games alone.

I watched in person last night as a very fat man tossed meatballs across the dish -- each one fatter and juicier than the last -- and each one traveling faster and farther into the mild Cleveland night.

It was a horrendous sight.

And while I wish last night's game was an abberration, each game I've watched this year (in person or on the TV), the Tribe has looked lost, disinterested, tired and unprofessional -- kind of like the Cleveland Browns of the late 1990s and early 2000s ... and mid-2000s, come to think. I digress.

The Indians are now tied with the Tigers for last place in the Central -- each winning a paltry one-third of its games.

No doubt there is time for the Tribe to reverse its disasterous course, but I fear last night I watched two teams going in opposite directions.

And that means I'm stuck with a crapload of worthless tickets, and I might have to (again) adopt the Tigers as a team to watch and root for (as I did in 2006).

And that just sucks because I hate Detroit.

4.14.2008

The Pudge that Roared 'n' More

"Mortgage the Stadium and sign Pudge Rodriguez." M. Hud, November 2003


Few things get the blood going for a fan like seeing their team stink up the field against all expectation, going 2 and 10 to begin what was supposed to be a magical season. But those few things include seeing that team start Lucky 13 just as stinky, commit three errors, go down by a lot of runs through 7...AND then blast the cover off the ball for the first time this season!

1. Fire and I. Rod: Pudger. I was just saying to Gaines over some sweeeeeeet Intelligentsia shots how surprised I was that Pudge hadn't lost his temper during this losing streak. But after he drilled a triple to tie up the score in the 8th inning today, he showed that same fire we've come to expect with a fist pump, point to the sky and high five with hyper-cool 3rd Base Coach Gene Lamont. He then executed a Kobe-esque slide into home plate with the go ahead run, popping up seamlessly into a clench fist pose. Well played.

2. Saito: On a micro-level, watching T. Saito of the Dodgers blow his save opp tonight was in the same league of shocking that the Tigers start has been. Saito was throwing BBs at the Pirates and had some sick looking stuff. Then some hump batting 4 for 38 took his first offering about five rows into the right-field bleachers with two on and two out. Yipe.

3. Tippy Canoe: Robinson Cano, or "Canoe" as DJ once called him in an interview, came off the bench and shot an OT HR to RF. That's a good way to jump start his season, I think.

4. The Royals! They're good, brother. And when they're not playing the Tigs, I find myself pulling for them ala Tampa Bay's DEVIL Rays.

5. Great Moments in Plate Etiquette: Two things I haven't seen before. First, some guy in some game (I forget where) honestly took a full second to admire his SINGLE he roped to RF. Second, Manny Ramirez crushed a double in the Tigers first win a few day ago. The moment it left his bat, he could be seen visibly chewing his gum before taking off down the base path. Now THAT is dialed in. (UPDATE: I dug it up for the single admiration. It was OAK v. CLE on Saturday, and I think this is Emil Brown pinch-hitting an RBI. From another game with Brown hitting an RBI against the Chi Sox, he kind of did the same thing. Look how far that ball has traveled in the pitcher's eyes without any movement from Brown.)

4.13.2008

The guy on the left is the best pitcher in MLB the last 20 years, the guy on the right is the second best in Spartan basketball history


The Tigers drafted Johnny Smoltz very late in the 1985 draft, just as the steroid era was beginning. A couple years later he was involved in that infamous Doyle Alexander trade that helped Detroit win the AL East in 1987, and in the longer term helped Atlanta win over a dozen division titles and a world title.

He has won over 200 games, and if it weren't for the four years he was saving almost 40 a year as the best closer in the game during that stretch, he would be easily on pace to win 300. He has proven to be one of best postseason hurlers in the history of MLB.

Can you imagine had he not been traded? Sure the Tigs would've been spared the '87 division title, but instead of one title in the '80s, with Jack Morris and John Smoltz at the top of the rotation in that era they would've had at least one more.

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...I'm watching Javier Vazquez throw 90-91 mph fastballs past Tiger hitters ! They are missing these pitches by a foot. They have 6 hits and no runs in last 14 innings with umpires getting in the way of the Tiger defense as they try to field the baseball, but I still think they will win 92 more games.

4.12.2008

Come back Voodoo Child


The pen pitched 9 innings and allowed 1 run last night. Gas Can Grilli helped put out the fire quite nicely this time. Denny Bautista has been a pleasant surprise in the 8th. When Zumaya returns, why not start him out as a 7th inning reliever to ease him back ? Point to consider.

Verlander goes today against Gavin Floyd. The Tigers owe him about 10 runs in 4 innings, however it'll be cold and damp in Chicago and runs will be at a premium. We'll see.

The Tigers are only 4 games out after a horrid beginning, and that's behind Kansas City. If you think about it in those terms, we're in a good position. Game on !

The Fat Man

Check out this line:
Year Ag Tm  Lg  W   L   G   GS  CG SHO  GF SV   IP     H    R   ER   HR  BB   SO  HBP  WP  BFP  IBB  BK  ERA *lgERA *ERA+ WHIP

2008 27 CLE AL   0   2   3   3   0   0   0  0   14.0   24   18   18   3    9   13   1   0    74   1   0 11.57  4.23   37 2.357

This pathetic excuse for a pitching line is the biggest reason the Tribe is two games below .500. Who'd a thunk last year's CY Young trophy winner would lay not one, not two but THREE NEal Heaton-like starts on his team?

This guy's supposed to be the next hundred-million-dollar pitcher, and he's throwng meatballs.

I tell you right now: Forge the Tigers; the Indians are in real trouble.

4.11.2008

White Sox v. Umps 2008

UPDATE: Thome suspended 1 game. He musta said something untoward...


Wish I was a little bit taller...


I'm biased in two places on this one...first, the W. Sox are playing the Tigs. Second, I tend to side with umpires/referees on most things (despite a seething problem with authority, just ask those three cops I got fired in Jackson, Mich...booyah.)

The issue has long been Ozzie Guillen running his mouth about pretty much anything. Add to this, the official "correct" call percentage in MLB hovers at around 95 percent as judged by the video monitoring system the league installed several years back, according to what the MLB veep said at the camp.

So that leaves you with 1 out of 20 pitches being called either a ball or a strike when "by-the-book" it is actually the opposite. (for an amateur, this climbs to well around 6 out of 20) The point is, every game sees more than 10 pitches that are technically called improperly. The best you can do as an Ump is to make sure you're calling the same zone no matter which team is batting. And that's usually what the league, the managers and -- to a lesser extent -- the players hold the Umpires to.


The White Sox are off to a very poor start with Umpires this year with Ozzie loudly getting into a tiff with Phil Cuzzi (10) the other day, saying he calls strikes against the Sox because Cuzzi doesn't like him. Ehh.

But the attitude pervades the organization. Today, Jim Thome was tossed by Home Plate Ump James Hoye (a rookie-ish fellow) for arguing balls and strikes. It happened after Thome sat on a strike out pitch that ate full plate and fronted at the tips of his generously tall knees (the southern border of the strike zone is defined the hollow of the knee, or the top of your shin really). He lost it. The announcers (the hot-and-cold combo of “Hawk” Harrelson and former OF Darrin Jackson) spent the rest of the game complaining about the call, the zone and how the Sox "had the bat taken out of their hands." By the end, the Sox gabbers suggested the Tigers had a different zone (Magglio and Inge both suffered borderline calls late) and that "a strike for us is pretty much anything that hits the glove of Pudge Rodriguez." On and on it went.

The point is...one pitch at one at-bat is not worth this amount of anger. For 100+ years, the league has accepted this -- hence, the reason you get tossed for arguing balls and strikes. If this was allowed, the games would never end. And worrying about it these days with the Umps under video grading is tantamount to giving yourself a complex -- always a no-no for a hitter, pitcher or team.

But it's not just baseball. Those that complain usually only serve to get inside their own heads (Kobe, Mark Cuban, Guillen) and truly lose any sympathy from the Umpire/Referee crews. It seems the Sox are being consumed by this attitude from the top already. I know this much, the Tigers liked seeing Thome leave the game more than any of the Umpires did.


Huddy Extra: If you got to see it, you can really see the difference in an experienced salt like Cuzzi taking flak and a young ump like Hoye. With the old guys, the eyes are bored, the bodies are firm, posture perfect...great body language. With Hoye, his eyes were bright and he had slightly nervous body language. It's subtle, but it's there. When Ted Barrett (65) -- who happened to by on 3rd in this game -- was screaming in my face, playing an irate manager after I blew a call, I had the benefit of sunglasses to hide my nonverbal expression...which was certainly screaming "help" thanks to Barrett's generous height of at least 6' 4" with a build and bark to match. Hoye had no such protection, but fortunately had the full support of his crew in case he was getting nervous.

I saw a clip of the other Umpires in the crew before the game giving Hoye a fist bump on the chest to pump him up before the game. So he must be a real newbie, though I saw he had been behind the plate before from some box scores. He handled himself well, I thought. And he kept his zone the same after the dust up from the normally staid Thome.

Why the douche are kids going to school today?


Isn't the first Yankees/Red Sox tilt of the year, like, a Federal holiday?

I admit it, I'm interested. But only because I have the Wang-meister on my fantasy team.

Hit up this link for more lame self-mytologizing.

4.10.2008

1 Little Win

Thames and Inge watch the shot that — finally — launches the Tigers’ season.
(AP)

Wasn’t it fun to watch: home runs, manufactured runs, pinch bunting, Pudge throwing out runners, a starting pitcher getting out of a jam, relief pitching protecting a lead, enthusiasm in the dugout? It was only one little win, and the Tigs are still 1-7, but that glimpse of successful, competent baseball suddenly opens up a season of possibility, don’t it?

4.07.2008

90 Percent Polls: '07 Yanks or '08 Tigs?


Get of my (BRAND NEW!) face



The question is simple...which is worse:

21-29 after 50 games for the 2007 Yanks (read previous link for what the fans were saying and here and the NYT here.)

or

0-6 for the wildly-hyped 2008 Tigs?

Vote over to the right and discuss!

White Sox Winner!!!

No matter where the White Sox finish in the standings this season, all of us fans are winners, because we have been blessed with the presence of the best radio analyst ever. Period. AMEN.
*
Steve Stone is the only thing I ever begrudged Cub fans. And ever since the fascists at Tribune Co. ran him out of town in 2004 for being two steps ahead of the manager I have prayed for this eventuality.

I don't know how satellite radio or any of that shit works. But if you like your broadcasts dense and delightful, dial up Stoney and Farmio some time this season. And who knows? It looks like maybe the Sox will be worthy of his attentions.

Here's some vintage video of two geniuses at work. And then - if you haven't seen it yet - some video of Jeff Brantley sticking his head up his own butt, in real time:



4.06.2008

Wake Me When 2008 Starts



...and don't forget to tell the Tigers.

When The AL Central Smack Will Cease ...


... When talk turns to AL Central World Champions:

Detroit - 4
Chicago - 3
Cleveland - 2
Minnesota - 2
Kansas City - 1

_________________________________________

The recent slide out of the gate here by the Tigers just gives frivolous fodder to the divisional rivals that do not have as many World Trophies. We'll see where Detroit is on June 1. The rest will have to "earn their stripes" so to speak after October 1.


JuanP for 2B


The time has come to find Juan Pierre a permanent spot in the Dodgers lineup while making sure that Andre Ethier AND Matt Kemp get their everyday at bats. Pierre, never known for his arm, won’t be missed in the Dodger outfield. Furthermore (and least importantly) the little speedster just looks like a second baseman.

Now the Dodgers currently have MLB veteran and clubhouse curmudgeon Jeff Kent manning the territory between first and second, but at what point do we move on from the 40-year old who is batting .188 on the season? Much of last year’s clubhouse tension seemed to begin with Kent who couldn’t get along with the young Dodgers. Well, with Russell Martin, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Matt Kemp the future of the Dodgers, why alienate them in any way for a guy that hasn’t gotten along with a single teammate since he went hunting in Houston?

Kent aside, Pierre’s ability to play everyday, steal bases and generally distract an opposing pitcher from his game plan is an invaluable asset to have in your lineup. Now these types of defensive switches are best made in Spring Training to work out the kinks before it counts, but it’s never too late to get a guy you gave $44 million to last Spring back into the everyday lineup. Especially a guy who scored 96 times last year, into an anemic offense.

So the question becomes, what to do with Kent? As I see it, there are three options:

1. Wait for inevitable DL stint and make the transaction
2. Trade him to a veteran team that needs a solid bat in the 7 or 8 hole (if Jeff Kent is your cleanup hitter, you have problems.
3. Move him to third until Andy LaRoche or Nomar can play, and keep him around as a solid bat off the bench.

The current situation with Pierre is disgraceful and reminiscent of a few years back when Dodgers GM Ned Coletti ruined Gold Glove Shortstop Cezar Izturis’ career by rendering him obsolete. Izturis deserved better (and I was happy to see him traded so that he could play every day again) and so does Pierre.

Beware the Snows of April

The link I've provided here underscroes why the Tribe shouldn't play a home game before April 15.

Check out the giveway on April 12: Tribe stocking cap.

Baseball is meant to be played in the summer, when the weather's warm and the beer is refreshing. Not in temperatures that usher in freezing fog.

Further proof -- if you need it -- is last year's opening weekend debacle. The Tribe was snowed out three straight days as it began its home schedule against the Mariners. Downtown Cleveland got a foot of snow that weekend.

So what do the schedulers -- in their infinite wisdom -- do to the Tribe this year? They put a larger percentage of their home games (relatively speaking) in April and May, including an opening series against Chicago that, may I remind you, the two teams played in weather more suited for rugby than baseball.

Cleveland certainly isn't the only city whose team suffers this fate, but there are enough warm-weather cities in the league to mitigate the risk.

I hope that the schedule makers can put on their Tribe stocking caps and do some serious thinking about this problem.

And yes. I'm complaining because I'm a season-ticket holder and I absolutely hate the friggin' cold.

4.05.2008

Calls: Saturday Offers Dugout Rule Insights, Fox "Wired" Umps


Jim Joyce has a wonderful mustache. (Photo: Boston.com)


As the seaon progresses, I'd like 90 Percent to not only offer up some thoughts on players/teams, but also on the rules and the umpiring. Here's a couple-three (as we'd say in Greenville) items from Saturday.

1. Fox Listens In: I remember something about Umps starting to wear microphones, but I guess I forgot in all the excitement. Today, we listened in to Jim Joyce (66) explaining (to a fan, no less) the call discussed in item two. The cool thing with this is you got to hear the authority in the Umpire voice, they kind of remind you of cops the way they talk. It's startling to hear such a firm voice from these guys you've never heard speak, usually only see while a player is cursing at them and/or an announcer is assuring you they blew a call.

2. The Call that Torre Built: With the Dodgers @ Petco Park taking on the Padres, "parents" catcher Josh Bard -- chased a fly ball into foul territory toward his own dugout. Rafael Furcal was perched on 3rd base, with no outs, if I recall. Padres catcher dives/slides into the dugout and makes the catch as a few coaches give him a hand making sure he doesn't fall asunder on the steps. Furcal tags up, but the catcher is able to compose himself and hold the runner. The Umps called the batter out. Dodgers skip Joe Torre requested an explanation...after a quick consult that apparently included the rule book, the Home Plate Ump Joyce called the out and awarded the runner home plate. Normally, this is where the announcers and all your friends take turns butchering the rules of the game.

But thanks to the in-game talk with Torre and the wired conversation with the fan we heard later, this involved two rules, neither of which involving the helping hands of the coaches. On one hand, a catcher CAN make a legal catch in the dugout IF he maintains his footing. Otherwise, he is out-of-play. In this case he caught the ball legally IN play, but then slid OUT of play. As such, he was under normal rules with the catch and then subject to the special dugout footing rule after the catch. The ball is out-of-play (as if he had thrown it or dropped it in the stands) and the baserunner is awarded a base. Because the catcher was out-of-play and the ball was dead, the assistance of the coaches never affected the play.

Credit to Torre for knowing this rule about the catcher's footing from some corner of his mind. Not sure if the Umps were discussing giving the runner the plate or not before he brought it up.

3. Remember the Name of Timmons: Porsche aficiando and dude who was good enough to say I had an eye for calling the corners, Tim Timmons (95) is a professional official you should PAY to watch call a game, no matter who's playing. And despite this, they called him "Tim Thomas" on SportCenter when one of those crafty Indians tried to insinuate a problem with a particular call. It was like when Steven Cohen had to hear ABC/ESPN's Dave O'Brien announce "Michael Beckham" take the field during the World Cup. That was pretty funny, actually. We eventually just had to turn the volume off for the poor Brit to finish watching the England match in peace.

"Opening Weak": The 2008 Detroit Tigers

Click the title for a great and sober round-up from our former Deacon -- Lynn Henning of the Detroit News -- on the damage the Detroit Tigers are doing to themselves by losing their first four -- now make that -- first five games.

Huddy's Amateurish Thoughts Here:

1. Magg's et al...Please Don't Swing @ Pitch #1: In 2006, the namesake of my daughter (partially kidding) spent the first half hacking away and finding little success. He's looking very much the same way this year, killing rallies with no-out double plays in the 1st inning yesterday and in the 8th today...both off weak slaps at 1st pitches. Clete Thomas hacked at #1 in the 9th with two men on, Guillen and M. Cab did it in other innings...all to similar fates just upon a quick review. There's plenty more in there.

2. Bullpen: Why take Willis out with a 2 run lead after he's thrown a 1-hitter (with like 8 walks, of course) on 80ish pitches? For Zach Miner? Let Dontrelle either fight it out or lose it. He earned that right. Leyland yanked him for our sad-sack bullpen help after Thome crushed a double that was the first hit and the first run.

3. Leyland: A team this good mathematically shouldn't start 0-5 @ home against losing teams more than maybe 2 or 3 times out of 100. So chances are fairly high that something is "wrong." And that goes to preparation and that goes to my hero James "Awesome" Leyland. But he's on the ball so he'll get it fixed...still, this stretch isn't making his job any easier. But I'd still bar fight anyone who speaks ill of him...if I could bar fight. Maybe I'd just insult you under my breath once I was safely in the car.

4. Detroit Fans (an unfair, lashing-out from Hud): Maybe it's the LA Dodger mentality that has seeped into me, but I boo the 2nd Highest Paid Team in MLB when they stink up the field. It's not impolite to boo your team when they are bad. As an athlete, wouldn't you rather hear your fans venting than sitting on their hands? If this were Yankee Stadium, that team would know they better show up to play when they don the home jersey and trot out. AND QUIT SELLING OUT LIONS GAMES!!!

5. Baseball: What kind of cruel game is this?

4.03.2008

Frank Thomas Tossed -- Here's Why


Big Hurt Takes a Big Shower -- Pic = NYT.com


In the NYY/TOR game today, Frank Thomas got tossed in record time right after (the very topic we broached in the previous post) a Strike Three call from Home Plate Ump...UCLA Alum Bill Miller (26) that the Big Hurt thought was an obvious Ball Four.

While I personally TiVo'd the pitch several times and still don't understand how a veteran like FT could both take this pitch on a full count and then dart down the line the moment the ball hit Jose Molina's glove...the larger point for moi is this...

Q: How Could FT Get Tossed So Quick?

A: The Golden Rule of Tossin' as I know it has two main parts...(1) if the word "You" is included in the tirade from the player/manager (2) if a player/manager argues balls and strikes. It's automatic, baby!

Thomas was still angry after the game, saying the call was terrible. Again...that's a tough argument considering it ate a good part of the plate at FT's belt, but more importantly...Thomas has been around long enough to know he needed to just swallow it, especially with his total salary this year dependent on his total AB count. I don't have access to his contract, but I'm pretty sure Miller gets the same salary either way.

Two ejections so far! What a season.

4.02.2008

2008 is Grrrrrreat!

Whatever, dude.


Here's a few things on my mind.

1. Shutout? If it weren't for Edgar Renteria (aka "the other guy we got" in Detroit) the Tigers would have been NO HIT by the combined pitching power of the Kansas City Royals. Three hits and no runs? I hate to care this much about Game #2 (Game #1 was awesome, despite the loss...) but the 2008 Detroit Tigers should be able to put up at least one against Koufax on his finest day. Land!

2. Reyes of Confusion: Those ads for MLB 2K8 with Jose Reyes and the disembodied voice of Denis Leary just don't make any sense. I get a guy smashing a cheap little boom box with a bat that he'd just been stroking with a towel (should be funny, but I don't get it.) And we even get Mr. Met with his head in an ice bucket (this should be better even than the WKU red lump). But I don't get it. I miss the Baseball Tonight guys playing out classic scenes from baseball movies.

3. Fukudome Me? Fukudome You, Pal! What a debut for everyone's (read: my) favorite rookie...3 for 3, with a bunch of RBIs, 8 total bases and an entire stadium of drunks still thinking they won that game.

4. Larry Bowa v. Ed Montague: I've gotta say...seeing a guy get his stir-ups in a bunch on April 1 is kind of a new thing for me. But Larry Bowa was born angry and the sun never sets on his temper, I'm gathering. As reported on this blog earlier this spring, MLB wants base coaches in their designated boxes in addition to wearing their hard hats. With a runner on 2nd, that puts 3rd Base coaches like Bowa in a tough spot because of the angle required to judge balls to the outfield. Long story short, Montague (11) wanted Bowa in the box, Bowa wanted Montague to clam up. I love every part of this and I'm sure both gents would agree over a brew in a month or two...each did their jobs. But beyond the greatness of seeing a base coach care enough to hoot and holler and get tossed this early over a minor issue...appreciate the professional job done by Montague...having a tough nut like Bowa screaming at you like a crazy person is more rattling than I care to imagine. But with 31 years under his belt, Montague doesn't break character, wince or even afford Bowa the satisfaction of even a decent frown. He just tosses the old salt and walks right back to his position without batting an eye. BAD ASS!

5. Wait For It: The big leaguers like to tell young Umps to take their time making a call. You build the anticipation of the call (my theory) and then deliver it. Either way, they consider it good form to pause a moment after the ball hits the glove -- lest you risk calling what you were anticipating the pitch to be. Tim Welke (3) took his sweet time making the ball or strike call in Detroit on Opening Day and caught a number of batters ushering themselves to 1st thinking they'd earned a walk only to be punched out or otherwise detained by a "late" right-hand strike call. This starting off to first whenever a ball on the corners passes by on a 3 ball count seems new to me...did guys always do this? It really honks Umps off. So why are more guys doing it?

3.30.2008

What a Weekend -- Dodgers, Dodgers and Opening Day


LOS ANGELES
-- There's not much more you can add to make the Dodgers/Red Sox series mo' betta' than people already think it was, but I can add a few thoughts from Friday's game at Dodger Stadium -- a.k.a. the first day of Canter's Deli @ the old ballyard.

Top 5 --



1. The Most Sensual of the Salted-Cured Meats: I had a dream you could buy your way to heaven, I woke up and spent it on a sandwich. $11. A pastrami sandwich at the ballpark? And it's a good one? Holy moly. Holy flippin' moly. I mean it was great. Quick service in the new widened aisles on the field level concourse only make this sam-itch all the more shmobviously obvs as top eatins at the ballpark. It's wrapped in foil, it's fresh, it's great.



2. Blake DeWitt: This guy was the absolute worst-case scenerio at 3rd for the Dodgies this spring and will likely start (I think that's still the case.) The good news is, he looks like he can seriously play. On Friday, he started a couple double-plays and made a sweet toss to 1st on another fielder's choice. He got solid contact each time up. On Saturday, he got an error that would have ended the inning only to lead to two runs scoring. Ah well. Still, a great look for a guy who has no business playing in the bigs at this stage of his career. Good luck, Blake.



3. Fonzie and the Cuz: Another top notch performance for the umps, with three alums of Ump Camp 2006 in the Friday game including Alfonso Marquez (72) and Derryl Cousins (13). "Fonzie" was in the crew of the 2006 WS and is an absolute clubhouse favorite among the Ump fraternity. And Cousins is a veteran who (literally) can call plays at first with his back turned. "It's all sounds you'll find. It's all about the sound and that's how close plays get called."

4. New Parking Deal: I got in and out of the Dodger Stadium parking mangle in record time. Parked in 10 minutes and was out in less than 5. Great new set up in my opinion. Holla.

5. Vin Scully on a Transistor Radio: Guy behind us had a little radio, just like I used to remember with Ernie Harwell at Tiger Stadium. Listenting to him on Friday and then on Saturday doing the 115K game from the Coliseum was just another reminder of how much a great announcer can add to this rockingly beautiful game.