This Week in Baseball 9/1 - 9/7

[garfieldsnose]

I see. At least some Phillies, albeit coaches, show some emotion when things don't go their way. As much as I love Utley, I'd like for him to show some emotion sometimes. This differs from the type of thing Ryan Howard does after hitting a ball that is going to be a homerun. I always hate when hitters stand there and only start running halfway down the line.

[jimmy no nose]

Oh, al, I was wondering how Dubee got ejected last night? I was at a bar and I caught the boxscore after the 6th inning on CSN, and it said Dubee was ejected. I didn't catch the highlights, either. Also, I was watching my DVR of AWA on ESPN Classic and it said Steve Smith was suspended for two games for actions towards the umpire last week against the Cubs. What happened? Thanks in advance.

Dubee presumably argued balls and strikes. He was walking away when the umpire tossed him, no idea what exactly he said. Smith got involved arguing that close play where Howard was called out at first base. That was the game where Soriano hit the go-ahead home run. I think Smith threw his helmet, but my memory could be iffy on that.

I was pretty sure Steve Smith got suspended for two games for punching Ken Lucas during training camp, but then I saw him playing Thursday night for the Giants, so who knows.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

I see. At least some Phillies, albeit coaches, show some emotion when things don't go their way. As much as I love Utley, I'd like for him to show some emotion sometimes. This differs from the type of thing Ryan Howard does after hitting a ball that is going to be a homerun. I always hate when hitters stand there and only start running halfway down the line.

I think there's too much emphasis on emotional play from the Phillies, or any team really. Utley hustles his ass off, he certainly isn't loafing out there.

[bob_barron]

Thanks a lot Jinx Keiper.

Can this jinx nonsense die already? No hitters aren't broken up because someone spoke up and broke the delicate spiritual balance. They are broken because a no-hitter is really a statistically difficult thing to do.

 

 

Do you realise how dumb you sound?

 

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Thanks a lot Jinx Keiper.

Can this jinx nonsense die already? No hitters aren't broken up because someone spoke up and broke the delicate spiritual balance. They are broken because a no-hitter is really a statistically difficult thing to do.

 

 

Do you realise how dumb you sound?

No, I don't.

[bob_barron]

Well, you do.

 

Talking about a no-hitter=jinxing it is just part of the fun of baseball. But I appreciate you clarifying for all of us that no-hitters are often broken up because pitchng a game and not giving up a hit is a hard thing do.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Well, you do.

 

Talking about a no-hitter=jinxing it is just part of the fun of baseball. But I appreciate you clarifying for all of us that no-hitters are often broken up because pitchng a game and not giving up a hit is a hard thing do.

It's superstition. But people get legitimately upset at this sort of thing, like that ESPN shouldn't show it on their bottom line or anything.

[garfieldsnose]

I admit, it does get annoying when people harp on you for "jinxing" something. Although it is part of the fun, getting names thrown at you (in real life, mind you) rather harshly because you "jinx" something really pisses some people off. If it's all in fun, there's no reason people need to be like "WAY TO GO FUCKER, IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

[Guest]

Oh yeah, the Orioles' wild card hopes have taken a minor hit with their seven game losing streak. The Orioles are now 20 games out of the wild card with 22 to go. Of course, they have an easy stretch coming up in their schedule, so they should take care of business and get back into the race.

They might need to win on Sunday from here on out.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Mets/Phillies already rained out. Makeup game tomorrow at 2:15 as part of a day/night doubleheader.

 

Oakland/Baltimore rained out for the day game, though they still hope to get in the night game tonight. I can understand a day/night doubleheader for Mets/Phillies. You have division rivals, a hot ticket and not much time left in the season. Canceling a game entirely will create a lot of unhappy ticket holders who could not acquire similar tickets with a raincheck. But scheduling a day/night doubleheader when you're playing another sub .500 team in September? When you drew less than 15000 paid the night before? What's the POINT? Straight doubleheader guys, you'll make it back in concessions.

 

This was an odd day/night double header for the O's in the first place. They moved a game from yesterday as not to inconvenience the almighty NFL game. And they didn't have to play Sunday as a result. How convenient. I doubt they even bother to make this game up.

[garfieldsnose]

So, the Phillies, 2 GB for first, can jump two games up with a sweep and be tied for first place at the end of one day. Has that ever been done before? I'm sure it has, but it's still an interesting tidbit.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

So, the Phillies, 2 GB for first, can jump two games up with a sweep and be tied for first place at the end of one day. Has that ever been done before? I'm sure it has, but it's still an interesting tidbit.

Almost certainly in the days when doubleheaders were more common occurrences. I know the Braves and Giants went into a doubleheader tied for first on Labor Day (they split). I keep thinking the 1949 showdown between the Red Sox and Yankees was a doubleheader, but it was a weekend series.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Here's one. The day before the infamous Merkle Boner game, the Cubs came into the Polo Grounds and swept a doubleheader from the Giants, coming from two games back to tie for first place in the National League.

[Guest]

I'm glad Joe Torre did the right thing and started Andre Ethier on a daily basis not too long after Manny came here. The schedule shakes out pretty well vs whatever Arizona happens to be doing on the same day, so we're in pretty good shape. Coupled with news that Vin Scully will announce games next year, yeah, good stuff all around.

[Guest Tzar Lysergic]

What's the infamous Merkle Boner game? That sounds amusing.

[Dandy]

It's not what you think.

[Bored]

But the Octavio Dotel boner game of 2004 is what you think.

 

[Guest Tzar Lysergic]

Put that in Sports Pictures for all eternity. Make that a splash page for the forums. Fucking tattoo that on something. My god. Oh my god. Holy shit.

[Guest Tzar Lysergic]

By the way, I didn't think the Merkle Boner game involved something like that excited man up there. I just like the name Merkle Boner, to be honest.

[jimmy no nose]

Great game going on right now in Toronto. The Blue Jays picked up 3 runs early and they kept the Rays off the board until the 9th when Ryan blew a 3 run lead on a Rocco Baldelli pinch hit 2 run homer, then another run on an error. In the bottom half Rolen was then thrown out at home attempting to score the walk-off run with 2 outs. In the 12th now the Rays loaded the bases with 2 outs, but Pena flew out. Evan Longoria is listed as available for today's game, but has yet to even take BP with the team, so he won't be hitting at least for a couple more days.

[treble]

Shit, I can't believe the Jays won that game. I think that's their first walk-off HR in over 2 years, too. And it was Gregg Zaun, too, holy fuck.

[KingPK]

So now the division lead can be cut to 1.5 with a win tonight and potentially just half a game by Sunday night. That series starting Monday is going to be the biggest of the season for both teams.

 

EDIT: Dammit MLB.com, update your standings faster!

Edited September 6, 2008 by KingPK

[jimmy no nose]

I guess I'm late on this, but yesterday's Oakland-Baltimore game featured quite possibly the worst pitched inning in recent memory. Oakland scored 8 runs on 1 hit, a grand slam by pinch runner Rajai Davis. 6 walks and a hit batter in the inning.

[Bored]

I saw that last night and thought about bringing it up in the thread but I didn't want to admit that I was actually watching an A's/Orioles game. We also nearly had our first instant replay overturn on the grand slam as umps initially ruled the ball in play but corrected themselves before going to the replay.

 

And tonight the A's won 5-1 to eliminate the Orioles from A.L. East race. You're welcome Rays.

[Guest Smues]

And tonight the A's won 5-1 to eliminate the Orioles from A.L. East race. You're welcome Rays.

 

THERE GO THE ORIOLES!

[CanadianChris]

At least let Marvin come in with some dumb-assed comment. You guys are playing wiffleball out there with him banned from the forum.

[Bruiser Chong]

Wait, when did he get banned? I was just thinking about how little I knew about the O's recent Sunday performances. This explains it.

[Bruiser Chong]

Chris Young has a perfect game through seven innings in Milwaukee. He's got a real chance of making this happen, as the Brewers have been struggling offensively and they've shown a habit of expanding their strike zone.

[Bored]

MLB.com is giving free coverage of the game right now.

 

And the second I turn it on, homerun Gabe Kapler.

 

OMG YOU JINXED IT!!

[Bruiser Chong]

In the span of five minutes, Young loses the no-hitter and Ronny Cedeno boots a game-ending double play ball that ties the game and they lose two pitches later. Fuck.