Now that college basketball has concluded following Florida’s impressive 73-57 win over UCLA last night in the National Championship (maybe the theme song should have been from ‘Jaws’ instead of ‘One Shining Moment’)—we shift gears and change seasons—to the NBA playoffs and to baseball.
Opening Day of Major League Baseball always seemed a little silly to me—why celebrate something that will happen 162 times between now and the end of September? It’s a long season, as they say. In a strange way, that’s baseball’s beauty. It’s the ultimate Gladiator test—like an extended holiday vacation with your family or the NCAA Tournament—survive and advance.
Therefore, we shouldn’t get too worked up by the first day scores—there are still 161 to go.
That said, let’s open up a new feature called ‘Balls & Strikes’, where I’ll explore some of the events and players that are either bad (balls) or good (strikes).
Ball: A’s pitching gets an F. I know I just said it’s early, but when you’re the sexy and popular pick to win the AL this year, you don’t want to see your ace Barry Zito getting rocked like Apollo Creed against Ivan Drago in the A’s 15-2 loss to the Yankees. Zito was lit up by New York’s All-Star line-up for seven earned runs, highlighted by an A-Rod homer in the second. He left after 1.1 innings, with a strike-ball count of 30-29.
Strike: Curt Schilling looks good. Sure, I’m a Boston fan so you could ignore this paragraph and call me a homer, but you’d be ignoring a good piece of information. The Red Sox looked good yesterday in their 7-3 win over the Rangers, with Coco Crisp flashing some good glove in center field, David Ortiz going 3-for-5 with a HR and Mike Lowell adding his first home run (and possibly, his first hit) since 1996.
But it was Schilling who looked the best, going seven full innings and racking up a 117-pitch count on his way to the win. His only error was a misplaced pitch to Hank Blalock that ended up being a short home run to right.
No, I’m not worried about Keith Foulke—unlike ESPN’s Steve Phillips, I don’t overreact on Opening Day. Foulke hasn’t pitched since July 4 of last year, so though he got tagged a couple times, it should be expected that he’s going to look a little rough his first few outings.
Ball: Nats lose on a nasty call. It’s not like you expect the umpires to be in mid-season form on Opening Day, but did we have to start the ‘Limited Instant Replay’ debate so soon? Apparently, we did. How was Alfonso Soriano called out on that play at home? Is it just me or did the ump take the wrong angle in front of the plate, instead of on the side of the third base line? Within minutes, the TV cameras showed it as a horrendous call. I’ve never been in favor of replay in baseball, but with calls like this, it’s not taken much to persuade me of the benefits of LIP.
Strike: Bonds is stuck between a syringe and a hard place. Bonds had a needle less syringe thrown at him in the eight inning, but he responded well. He picked it up and placed it in his glove. Surprisingly, he seemed at ease with the situation after the game. It’s probably because he just got a free syringe and that’s one less to order next week.
Ball: Nomar Garciaparra got hurt on his first at-bat yesterday, straining a muscle in his side, something important, I’m sure. In fact, it’s a muscle most of the announcers yesterday said they didn’t even know existed. That’s because it probably doesn’t.) Rest easy Dodger fans, you’ll see him once or twice in June before he shuts it down for the season. I’m just surprised Grady Little didn’t tell him to stay out there.
Strike: Roger Clemens was at the Rangers-Red Sox game yesterday. “Retirement’s where I’m at right now.” Hey, Brett—I mean Roger, just let us know when you’re ready. The Astros, Rangers, Red Sox and Yankees are all pursuing and courting the Rocket like Oz, Jim, Finch and Kevin did the girls in American Pie.
Today’s count went full before we struck out the side. Here’s to a great 2006 season.
The only thing Nolan Ryan was ever on was Advil. Now Roger, who knows...but I don't think Ryan was on steriods (and it isn't because I'm a "good ole country white boy" as you mentioned on your blog.
Last edited by MooreSports on April 4th at 9:45 AM.
Hey Bri....you're right about Schilling. I was very surprised to see him come out for the 7th after throwing 45 pitches in the 5th and 6th innings, but he went 1-2-3 in that 7th inning. To me, that's the most encouraging thing about his performance....BTW that catch Crisp made in the 9th kept things from being really ugly for Foulkie....
Nice thoughts, worthy of some comments.
Yes, the A's looked bad. Zito appeared to be sharp in the first inning, but then the Yankees adapted to the curveball. Not many pitchers will find success against the Yankees, especially with predictable pitches. The A's will still be solid...they have much more pitching than just Zito. But opening day is just one game in a lengthy season. Most pitchers aren't even close to top form, Zito's no different.
Schilling had an encouraging outing. Hopefully, a healthy season ahead for him.
Bonds may be an ####...but he is taking more #### than any player deserves. In all of baseball yesterday, there seemed to be more boos than cheers. Bonds, Rolen, Giambi...ridiculous. Bonds has a long season in front of him.
Nomar is...ridiculous. How does he even make it through practice or work-outs?
The Clemens situation is ridiculous. He has the opportunity to sit and wait...to determine who needs him the most. Ridiculous that he can just sit and wait while the season goes on.
Guys, thanks for the comments. Shooter B: you couldn't be more correct about Nomar. I've been wondering, does his wife start to wonder how big of a wuss he is? Does she think, I'm Mia Hamm, what am I doing with him, he's like fine china?
Crisp did make an incredible catch, which I choose to use as motivation to get over Damon, not that Foulke is getting cooked. Hopefully, he'll come around, but he did get tagged a couple times...and hard.
I think Barry's taking it a little hard as well, it's just too easy to make Victor Conte/Balco jokes when syringes are on the field and Conte's out of jail...
" It’s a long season, as they say. In a strange way, that’s baseball’s beauty. It’s the ultimate Gladiator test—like an extended holiday vacation with your family or the NCAA Tournament—survive and advance."
Beauty. Yea if by beauty you mean boredom? Or perhaps you mean that's baseball's downfall and why the NFL has easily surpassed MLB as "America's Past Time."
I know you will say it is "America's Past Time", and if it is, then Football is "America's Future and Present Time."
I mean how can you actually enjoy a sport that thrives on it's worthless records that are based on bias and uneven playing fields. I am not even talking about drugs. I am talking about the ridiculousness of having different sized out fields. In no other sport will you find different lengths of playing field, or for that matter any difference at all in the actual field of play.
Do you see different height rims in basketball? Do you see different length fields in football? Or Wider/Narrower goals in soccer.
Insanity. And no, it does not add a uniqueness to the game. It adds a certain absurdity to the whole idea of it. Especially given the misplaced importance of the meaningless records you all hold so dear.
Thanks for the comments...CBox, I actually agree with you and believe that football is now America's favorite pastime (I don't think I wrote that baseball is, but I could be wrong). I enjoy baseball because I played it for nearly 15 years of my life, because I've always loved the Sox and my father has always loved the Yankees, because I enjoy watching a game with him and sharing a beer. Because I like complaining about managerial moves, how long the season is and the ridiculous "magic" numbers. In a way, it's flaws are it's strengths and if you can get past the advantages/disadvantages of the fields, the fans and the 162 game schedule, you deserve to be a champion. I love basketball, I enjoy football--but I'll always have a place for baseball. It is unique, and in case you weren't aware, all sports are absurd--they're about doing something ridiculous with a ball. And mastering the absurd is something that we have an obsession with in this country and always will. Thanks again for the comments, Tom.
Last edited by MooreSports on April 5th at 4:51 AM.
Thank you for encapsulating why I, and lots of people like me, love baseball and always will. By the way, I love football too, there's enough room in my world for both sports....One last thought - After last night, I have a new appreciation for Doug Mirabelli; that poor Bard kid looked like a kitten jumping at a string trying to catch Wakefield's knuckler all night....
Nice post! Not only was there a bad call for Soriano, but there was supposedly a bat on the 3rd base line that made him alter his slide to begin with. There hasn't been any trouble since the day without an outfielder, but I still think he should be gone by the trade deadline.
Schilling is a gamer. Maybe he's finally healthy and we'll get to see the real deal this year. That would be good for baseball, no doubt.
Thanks for the comments guys. Half, I made a similar comment on another blog, about Doug Mirabelli. Sox fans like me are going to miss him--he is a key to the Sox success with Wakefield. And yes, I just threw up a little in my mouth when I used the words "Mirabelli" and "key to success" in the same sentence.
The REd Sox policy to retire a number is that the player must end his career with the Red Sox. If you remember Carlton Fisk came back for a cup of coffee to meet this requirement. How big is Rodgers ego? What would it mean to him to have his number in right field at Fenway...I think there is more to this than the money.
