Baseball Gods, Ghosts, First Out, Last Out
By Mike Silva ~ July 1st, 2009. Filed under: Morning Digest.
- Good job by the Yankees having Mariano Rivera throw out the ceremonial first pitch last night. It was only fitting that he got the opportunity to pick up save number 501 later in the night. I wonder if this has ever happened before.
- The baseball gods have been messing with the Mets since September of 2007. I think it’s time to get a witch doctor in the house or maybe talk to Pedro Cerrano and get that Jobu doll.
- Many didn’t like Girardi bringing Bruney in for the eighth inning last night. The main complaint was that Phil Hughes threw only nine pitches. Peter Abraham called it “paint by numbers” managing. I can see his point, but was Girardi concerned about going two innings with Hughes and not having him available tonight? The Yankees have all these rules with their young pitchers that you never know if the manager is making decisions because of innings or game situations. Regardless, Bruney has to do a better job in that spot.
- Classic story by Kevin Burkhardt during the sixth inning last night. Apparently the visiting team in Milwaukee stays in an old Victorian Hotel. The place is believed to be haunted. Yes you heard me, haunted. Luis Castillo was quoted as saying “he doesn’t like that place”. Best part, two unnamed Florida Marlins were so scared of that hotel that they wound up sleeping in the same room. Anyone want to guess who these two scared fish are? I think it’s time for a visit from the kids at the Penn State Paranormal Society.
- The Yankees pointed out in their press notes that they just came off the longest stretch of games without using the designated hitter. Ed Price said it best when he would have guessed they did that somewhere between 1901 and 1972. Get over it guys. This whole “non DH inequality” makes the organization sound silly and no one wants to hear it. By the way, the bat you were missing (Matsui), grounded out with the bases loaded in a big spot. I think the pitcher could have done that just as well.
- I have been a big supporter of Jerry Manuel. I believe he does a great job communicating with his players and the media. With that said, he has dropped the ball over the last few weeks. He continued to stress how this team needed to play perfect, that they were undermanned, and not good enough. Perhaps he thought that was going to motivate them to play above and beyond, but in reality it probably did the opposite. Now he preaches that they are good enough to win with that they have. You can’t go back Jerry. Did he lose these guys? The only hope is that this group has enough pride to continue to play hard. They aren’t buried yet, but are heading down that road.
- Bravo to Peter Abraham for telling it like it is with Joba. I am sick of hearing how great this guy is. Does he has talent? Absolutely. But his outings are frustrating and the conversation is boring. Wake me up when he decides he is not a fifth starter anymore. I am tired of hearing about this guy.
- Ken Griffey Jr. to Yankee Stadium use to be an “event”. He would singlehandedly torture the Yankees. You would then hear stories about how he George use to throw him and the other kids out of the clubhouse, etc. Now he is just a washed out former star. What star player is the new villain? With Papi over the hill, Manny in LA, and Griffey done, who can take his place?
- If you listened to the post game show on SNY you could tell even Ron Darling had enough. By the way, Hernandez is even funnier when Darling is not in the booth because he has to pay attention 100% of the time. You get classic Keith as a duo with Gary Cohen. That is why this summer, regardless of the teams performance, will never get boring.
- Listen to Steve Keane of Kranepool Society and I talk about the Mets issues and author Jonathan Lucas discuss growing up as a baseball fan in the early seventies on NYBD Radio.
