November 1 at Citi Field in Queens, NY
World Series
Fox
That 7-2 Royals' win in 12 innings not only put an end to the 2015 baseball season (and a 30-year title drought for Kansas City), but also 300 Game Season.
We hit the 300 mark on October 4 & added 16 more during the postseason.
"Wow!"
- Stan Belinda look-alike Wally Bermar
A few stats:
* Total cities visited: 12.
Conyers (GA), Decatur (GA), Atlanta (GA), Jacksonville (AL), Clemson (SC), Auburn (AL), Charlotte (NC), Cumming (GA), Kennesaw (GA), Birmingham (AL), Marietta (GA), Loganville (GA)
* 1st game: Georgia Tech at Georgia Southern, February 17
* Last game: Kansas City Royals at New York Mets, November 1
* Total days covered: 258 (averaged 1.2 games/day)
* Milestone games:
100 - Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners (April 25)
200 - New York Yankees at Chicago Whitesox (August 2)
300 - New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles (October 4)
Game 315 - Kansas City Royals at New York Mets
October 31 at Citi Field in Queens, NY
World Series
FOX
World Series
FOX
Game 314 - Toronto Bluejays at Kansas City Royals
October 23 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO
ALCS
Fox
We went nearly the entire baseball season without Harold Reynolds, but that all changed on Friday in game six, a 4-3 Royals' win that clinched their second straight pennant.
Let's take a look at his finest moments:
* Salvador Perez simply A) blocked a strike 3 in the dirt, B) looked back a runner at second and C) threw to first to complete the strike out. Reynolds: "that's next-level stuff right there."
Isn't that just THIS level stuff?
* Mike Moustakas hit a second-inning home run. Eventually Reynolds said this: "if we're playing wiffle ball in Joe's backyard, that's probably a triple."
Pardon?
* The 'Joe' mentioned in the previous couple sentences was play-by-play man Joe Buck, and at one point he mentioned how there was rain in the forecast for the late innings. Reynolds said: "you found a way to silence me, Joe. (now quoting Buck) 'The rain is coming'. "No! Please!"
If only that was all it would take, Harold, just some rain.
And some other nonsense:
* Pinch-runner and potential tying run Dalton Pompey steals second in ninth: "What a money bag!.....that is a money bag."
So, a money bag?
And with Pompey on second and Kevin Pillar batting: "I can't believe how different the game is. Man at second nobody out, we don't move him."
9 seconds later, Pompey stole third.
* On it being a little more humid at the start of the game: "...and you get a nice lather going."
* And finally, it was a 2-1 game in the seventh and Reynolds said: "this has been a tight game."
Thanks, Harold! You mean at no point in this game was a team ahead 14-0?
11-3?
Harold!
ALCS
Fox
We went nearly the entire baseball season without Harold Reynolds, but that all changed on Friday in game six, a 4-3 Royals' win that clinched their second straight pennant.
Let's take a look at his finest moments:
* Salvador Perez simply A) blocked a strike 3 in the dirt, B) looked back a runner at second and C) threw to first to complete the strike out. Reynolds: "that's next-level stuff right there."
Isn't that just THIS level stuff?
* Mike Moustakas hit a second-inning home run. Eventually Reynolds said this: "if we're playing wiffle ball in Joe's backyard, that's probably a triple."
Pardon?
* The 'Joe' mentioned in the previous couple sentences was play-by-play man Joe Buck, and at one point he mentioned how there was rain in the forecast for the late innings. Reynolds said: "you found a way to silence me, Joe. (now quoting Buck) 'The rain is coming'. "No! Please!"
If only that was all it would take, Harold, just some rain.
And some other nonsense:
* Pinch-runner and potential tying run Dalton Pompey steals second in ninth: "What a money bag!.....that is a money bag."
So, a money bag?
And with Pompey on second and Kevin Pillar batting: "I can't believe how different the game is. Man at second nobody out, we don't move him."
9 seconds later, Pompey stole third.
* On it being a little more humid at the start of the game: "...and you get a nice lather going."
* And finally, it was a 2-1 game in the seventh and Reynolds said: "this has been a tight game."
Thanks, Harold! You mean at no point in this game was a team ahead 14-0?
11-3?
Harold!
Game 312 - Chicago Cubs at New York Mets
October 18 at Citi Field in Queens, NY
NLCS
TBS
It's the middle of October in New York (and other places), so it's cold.
But just one mention of it at the start of the broadcast (Ernie Johnson: "it's extremely crisp") wasn't enough for the TBS team.
"It's 41 degrees"
"Chilly temperatures"
"...on a night like this"
"Chilly night here in New York"
"Tough to pitch with the cold tonight"
"They're bundled up here at Citi Field"
"40 degrees now"
"Cold weather"
"In this cold, the sting lasts a little longer"
"And on this chilly night in New York, Joe Maddon heads to the mound in the eighth"
So: chilly.
NLCS
TBS
It's the middle of October in New York (and other places), so it's cold.
But just one mention of it at the start of the broadcast (Ernie Johnson: "it's extremely crisp") wasn't enough for the TBS team.
"It's 41 degrees"
"Chilly temperatures"
"...on a night like this"
"Chilly night here in New York"
"Tough to pitch with the cold tonight"
"They're bundled up here at Citi Field"
"40 degrees now"
"Cold weather"
"In this cold, the sting lasts a little longer"
"And on this chilly night in New York, Joe Maddon heads to the mound in the eighth"
So: chilly.
IT'S CHILLY.
Game 311 - New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers
October 15 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
NL Division Series
TBS
Ernie Johnson has called Cal Ripken "Ironman" before, and each time (I'm assuming) it makes everyone feel really uncomfortable.
But why does he do it? Cal Ripken has been given the nickname 'The Ironman' before because he holds the all-time record for consecutive games played. That's fine. But as far as we know, Ernie Johnson is the only person on earth who CALLS HIM IRONMAN.
And during Thursday's game, Johnson even did this:
"Just kidding, Iron."
Stop it, Ernie Johnson!
NL Division Series
TBS
Ernie Johnson has called Cal Ripken "Ironman" before, and each time (I'm assuming) it makes everyone feel really uncomfortable.
But why does he do it? Cal Ripken has been given the nickname 'The Ironman' before because he holds the all-time record for consecutive games played. That's fine. But as far as we know, Ernie Johnson is the only person on earth who CALLS HIM IRONMAN.
And during Thursday's game, Johnson even did this:
"Just kidding, Iron."
Stop it, Ernie Johnson!
Game 310 - St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
October 13 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
NL Division Series
TBS
NL Division Series
TBS
Game 309 - Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets
October 12 at Citi Field in Queens, NY
NL Division Series
TBS
I just want to point out one moment from this game, which the Mets won 13-7 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Jimmy Rollins came up to the plate in the top of the seventh inning and Cal Ripken had this to say:
"I'm a big Jimmy Rollins fan, but in some ways, he's getting towards the end."
Cal, please don't sell yourself short: you are the BIGGEST Jimmy Rollins fan.
GETTING TOWARDS?!
I hate to quote a Doors' song, Cal, but THIS IS THE END.
NL Division Series
TBS
I just want to point out one moment from this game, which the Mets won 13-7 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Jimmy Rollins came up to the plate in the top of the seventh inning and Cal Ripken had this to say:
"I'm a big Jimmy Rollins fan, but in some ways, he's getting towards the end."
Cal, please don't sell yourself short: you are the BIGGEST Jimmy Rollins fan.
GETTING TOWARDS?!
I hate to quote a Doors' song, Cal, but THIS IS THE END.
Game 308 - St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
October 12 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
NL Division Series
TBS
A handful of Baseball Phrases & general silliness to get to in this one, an 8-6 Cubs' win in which the hosts hit a postseason-record six home runs and took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series.
Play-by-play man Brian Anderson
"not going to shy away from the theater"
"live-wire crowd"
"it was Wacha World two years ago"
"the friendly confines"
"crooked number"
"double-barrel action"
"big game pitcher"
Commentator Dennis Eckersley
"dots the corner with cheese!"/"he went to three pieces of cheese in a row"
"it's a Wally Workout is what it is"
"healthy gas"
"his bread and butter is that hook"
Commentator Joe Simpson
"work from behind the eight-ball"
"it is high and watch it fly night"
"Punchout(s)"
Said a total of 13 times
Anderson - 6
Eckersley - 6
Simpson - 1
This is not a nickname....
J-Hey Kid (Jason Heyward)
....you just took a nickname that already existed (Willie Mays, 'The Say Hey Kid'), then took the first letter of the first name and the first three letters of the last name, put a dash between them and added 'kid'.
THAT ISN'T A NICKNAME.
NL Division Series
TBS
A handful of Baseball Phrases & general silliness to get to in this one, an 8-6 Cubs' win in which the hosts hit a postseason-record six home runs and took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series.
Play-by-play man Brian Anderson
"not going to shy away from the theater"
"live-wire crowd"
"it was Wacha World two years ago"
"the friendly confines"
"crooked number"
"double-barrel action"
"big game pitcher"
Commentator Dennis Eckersley
"dots the corner with cheese!"/"he went to three pieces of cheese in a row"
"it's a Wally Workout is what it is"
"healthy gas"
"his bread and butter is that hook"
Commentator Joe Simpson
"work from behind the eight-ball"
"it is high and watch it fly night"
"Punchout(s)"
Said a total of 13 times
Anderson - 6
Eckersley - 6
Simpson - 1
This is not a nickname....
J-Hey Kid (Jason Heyward)
....you just took a nickname that already existed (Willie Mays, 'The Say Hey Kid'), then took the first letter of the first name and the first three letters of the last name, put a dash between them and added 'kid'.
THAT ISN'T A NICKNAME.
Game 307 - Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros
October 12 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX
AL Division Series
Fox Sports
AL Division Series
Fox Sports
Game 306 - Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals
October 10 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
NL Division Series
TBS
NL Division Series
TBS
Game 305 - New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers
October 9 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
NL Division Series
TBS
What a phenomenal postseason debut for Jacob deGrom.
The right-hander struck out 13 (the most ever for a pitcher in his debut) in seven shut out innings as New York won 3-1 to steal home field advantage.
deGrom retired the final 11 batters he faced, on the road, in his first postseason start.
Incredible performance for the Mets, who were playing in their first postseason since The Beltran Game in 2006.
David Wright had a big, two-out, two-run single in the seventh to put the Mets up 3-0. Clayton Kershaw had walked the bases loaded with two outs before Pedro Baez relieved and served up the sharp single up the middle.
Kershaw was charged with all three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings pitched, though he pitched well (11 K) & actually lowered his career playoff ERA to an even 5.
* Few Baseball Phrases for the TBS commentating team
Cal Ripken
"this time playing possum"
"a big punch out pitch"
Ron Darling
"Kershaw from Dallas, Texas, trying to play a little country hard ball"
"achilles heel"
"that's been thrown out the window"
NL Division Series
TBS
What a phenomenal postseason debut for Jacob deGrom.
The right-hander struck out 13 (the most ever for a pitcher in his debut) in seven shut out innings as New York won 3-1 to steal home field advantage.
deGrom retired the final 11 batters he faced, on the road, in his first postseason start.
Incredible performance for the Mets, who were playing in their first postseason since The Beltran Game in 2006.
David Wright had a big, two-out, two-run single in the seventh to put the Mets up 3-0. Clayton Kershaw had walked the bases loaded with two outs before Pedro Baez relieved and served up the sharp single up the middle.
Kershaw was charged with all three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings pitched, though he pitched well (11 K) & actually lowered his career playoff ERA to an even 5.
* Few Baseball Phrases for the TBS commentating team
Cal Ripken
"this time playing possum"
"a big punch out pitch"
Ron Darling
"Kershaw from Dallas, Texas, trying to play a little country hard ball"
"achilles heel"
"that's been thrown out the window"
Game 304 - Houston Astros at Kansas City Royals
October 9 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO
AL Division Series
Fox
No!
Not Oliver Perez!
AL Division Series
Fox
No!
Not Oliver Perez!
Game 303 - Houston Astros at New York Yankees
October 6 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
AL Wild Card Game
ESPN
R.I.P.C.C. (Rest in Piles of Crushed Crackers) 2015 Yankees
AL Wild Card Game
ESPN
R.I.P.C.C. (Rest in Piles of Crushed Crackers) 2015 Yankees
Game 302 - Washington Nationals at New York Mets
October 4 at Citi Field in Queens, NY
SNY
The Mets' offense is really struggling and had scored just one run in the previous 42 innings before Curtis Granderson launched a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth for the only run of this game.
A miserable season came to an end for the Nationals, who ended up firing manager Matt Williams afterwards.
* This was my first time listening to Keith Hernandez in nearly six months, so it took me a second to remember how ridiculous he is.
Quite.
The answer is he is quite ridiculous.
We were forced to play a game called What Are All The Things That Keith Hernandez Remembers? because Keith Hernandez has to mention his playing career every 6 minutes (MLB/federal law).
Here's what we learned:
1. He lost the batting title on the last day of the 1980 baseball season.
2. He knows Steve Carlton and saw him the other day.
3. In 1984 Mets fans loved the Mets so they cheered for (the Mets) a lot on the last day of the season.
4. He watched a Brewers game in 1982.
5. Mike Witt was a good pitcher.
6. He played baseball for the Mets.
More from Hernandez
- On Jacob deGrom's upcoming Division Series start: "maybe the most important start of his young career."
Maybe?! It's his second season in the big leagues and it will be his first playoff start.
- Back to the 1980 batting race: "I ended up losing the batting race to Bill Buckner, ironically."
Someone doesn't know the meaning of the word "ironically".
I think he's trying to say that since Buckner made the error in the World Series six years later that it is now ironic that Buckner (future Redsox) would've beaten Keith Hernandez (future Met) in a batting race six years earlier.
- It was a sunny day and Washington second baseman Trea Turner wasn't wearing sunglasses. Play-by-play man Gary Cohen: "how does a Major League player not go out onto the field with sunglasses?"
Hernandez: "maybe....he's a September call-up?"
Pardon?
- And finally, Hernandez called Granderson's home run a Vinny Bombarito, so he clearly wasn't going to get away with that.
SNY
The Mets' offense is really struggling and had scored just one run in the previous 42 innings before Curtis Granderson launched a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth for the only run of this game.
A miserable season came to an end for the Nationals, who ended up firing manager Matt Williams afterwards.
* This was my first time listening to Keith Hernandez in nearly six months, so it took me a second to remember how ridiculous he is.
Quite.
The answer is he is quite ridiculous.
We were forced to play a game called What Are All The Things That Keith Hernandez Remembers? because Keith Hernandez has to mention his playing career every 6 minutes (MLB/federal law).
Here's what we learned:
1. He lost the batting title on the last day of the 1980 baseball season.
2. He knows Steve Carlton and saw him the other day.
3. In 1984 Mets fans loved the Mets so they cheered for (the Mets) a lot on the last day of the season.
4. He watched a Brewers game in 1982.
5. Mike Witt was a good pitcher.
6. He played baseball for the Mets.
More from Hernandez
- On Jacob deGrom's upcoming Division Series start: "maybe the most important start of his young career."
Maybe?! It's his second season in the big leagues and it will be his first playoff start.
- Back to the 1980 batting race: "I ended up losing the batting race to Bill Buckner, ironically."
Someone doesn't know the meaning of the word "ironically".
I think he's trying to say that since Buckner made the error in the World Series six years later that it is now ironic that Buckner (future Redsox) would've beaten Keith Hernandez (future Met) in a batting race six years earlier.
- It was a sunny day and Washington second baseman Trea Turner wasn't wearing sunglasses. Play-by-play man Gary Cohen: "how does a Major League player not go out onto the field with sunglasses?"
Hernandez: "maybe....he's a September call-up?"
Pardon?
- And finally, Hernandez called Granderson's home run a Vinny Bombarito, so he clearly wasn't going to get away with that.
Game 301 - Oakland Athletics at Seattle Mariners
October 4 at Safeco Field in Seattle, WA
ROOT Sports
ROOT Sports
Game 300
New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles
October 4 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD
MASN
[lead coming May, 2024]
Game 300 Live Blog
A post game quote from Yankees manager Joe Girardi (courtesy of http://yankees.lhblogs.com/):
"We have to come out and swing good and pitch well."
Wow!
Thanks, Joe!
6:41 - The regular season for the New York Yankees is, in fact, (finally) over.
6:40 - Arizona 5, Houston 3 (F). Yankees host wild card game on Tuesday.
"Thank You, Arizona!"
- tentative title of early-2016 documentary on the 2015 Yankees (directed by Bob Feathers Jr.)
6:08 - Baltimore wins 9-4. The Yankees, in need of just two victories during the final WEEK of the regular season to secure a home game in the AL Wild Card Game, won once.
5:14 - 5:49 - Orioles succeeding, Yankees failing, part 2
5:00 - 5:13 - Orioles succeeding, Yankees failing.
4:59 - I mean it: is it over?
4:49 - Arizona 2, Houston 2.
The Yankees can 1. play poorly and 2. still back into a home game in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game with a Houston loss.
This is absolutely the first/last? time I'm cheering for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
4:46 - CCH didn't go well (5-1 Orioles), Meanwhile: Arizona 2, Houston 1 (top 5)
4:43 - CCH isn't going well.
4:38 - Let us begin Chris Capunao Hour (CCH)
4:36 - Is the regular season over yet?
4:34 - IYOI
4:17 - The Yankees have left 277 players on base through four innings (Ellis Sports Bureau)
3:59 - IYOI
3:50 - Brett Gardner just took five pitches (three strikes). I'm not sure there's a better description for what it was like to watch Gardner hit the past two months.
3:44 - Every once in a while I'll express my disbelief that a player is still active at the highest level of professional baseball, then type his name and add some punctuation.
Today's winner is:
J.J. Hardy?!
3:34.15 - Chase Headley isn't a good hitter.
3:33 - I need to pay someone upwards of 15 peanut shells to find out how many ground-rule doubles the Yankees have hit this season. It has to be close to a team record.
Greg Bird has one to start the second.
3:14 - Infuriating Yankee Offensive Inning (IYOI) - 1 (of 1)
3:07 - I wasn't quick enough to get the screen shot, but the man in this photograph
was wearing an LSU sweatshirt and the man a few feet to his left had on a Detroit Tigers t-shirt.
Yanks-O's!
3:04 - Game 300 is underway.
2:45 pm - For the 29th consecutive season, I'm proud to say I've not watched a single second of Pre-Game Baseball!
I could not have done it without him
October 4 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD
MASN
[lead coming May, 2024]
Game 300 Live Blog
A post game quote from Yankees manager Joe Girardi (courtesy of http://yankees.lhblogs.com/):
"We have to come out and swing good and pitch well."
Wow!
Thanks, Joe!
6:41 - The regular season for the New York Yankees is, in fact, (finally) over.
6:40 - Arizona 5, Houston 3 (F). Yankees host wild card game on Tuesday.
"Thank You, Arizona!"
- tentative title of early-2016 documentary on the 2015 Yankees (directed by Bob Feathers Jr.)
6:08 - Baltimore wins 9-4. The Yankees, in need of just two victories during the final WEEK of the regular season to secure a home game in the AL Wild Card Game, won once.
5:14 - 5:49 - Orioles succeeding, Yankees failing, part 2
5:00 - 5:13 - Orioles succeeding, Yankees failing.
4:59 - I mean it: is it over?
4:49 - Arizona 2, Houston 2.
The Yankees can 1. play poorly and 2. still back into a home game in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game with a Houston loss.
This is absolutely the first/last? time I'm cheering for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
4:46 - CCH didn't go well (5-1 Orioles), Meanwhile: Arizona 2, Houston 1 (top 5)
4:43 - CCH isn't going well.
4:38 - Let us begin Chris Capunao Hour (CCH)
4:36 - Is the regular season over yet?
4:34 - IYOI
4:17 - The Yankees have left 277 players on base through four innings (Ellis Sports Bureau)
3:59 - IYOI
3:50 - Brett Gardner just took five pitches (three strikes). I'm not sure there's a better description for what it was like to watch Gardner hit the past two months.
3:44 - Every once in a while I'll express my disbelief that a player is still active at the highest level of professional baseball, then type his name and add some punctuation.
Today's winner is:
J.J. Hardy?!
3:34.15 - Chase Headley isn't a good hitter.
3:33 - I need to pay someone upwards of 15 peanut shells to find out how many ground-rule doubles the Yankees have hit this season. It has to be close to a team record.
Greg Bird has one to start the second.
3:14 - Infuriating Yankee Offensive Inning (IYOI) - 1 (of 1)
3:07 - I wasn't quick enough to get the screen shot, but the man in this photograph
was wearing an LSU sweatshirt and the man a few feet to his left had on a Detroit Tigers t-shirt.
Yanks-O's!
3:04 - Game 300 is underway.
2:45 pm - For the 29th consecutive season, I'm proud to say I've not watched a single second of Pre-Game Baseball!
I could not have done it without him
Game 299 - Boston Redsox at New York Yankees
October 1 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
It's been an absolutely ridiculous six months for the New York Yankees. The team has gone from low expectations in March to possibly being the best team in the American League in July to looking like an old, tired team that may limp into the Wild Card game OR limp into their living rooms to watch the Wild Card game on television to clinching a spot in that game on the fourth-to-last day of the regular season.
Thursday's 4-1 win behind a gutsy performance from the rejuvenated CC Sabathia (5 IP, 1 ER), stellar relief work from Adam Warren (three one-hit innings) & a trio of solo home runs, put New York in the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
The formula for this postseason-securing victory was the formula for a lot of Yankee wins: good enough starting pitching, excellent work from the bullpen and hitting the ball out of the park.
So, they qualified for the postseason (one more win or a Houston loss this weekend and NY will host Tuesday's play-in game), but things are never easy for the 2015 Yankees.
The 2015 Yankees, a timeline
Spring Training: "the Yankees will be lucky to finish .500."
Mid-April (3-6 start): "see?!"
Win 13 of 16, climb into first place: "the Yankees are over-achieving!"
Season-high seven-game AL East lead in late-July: "the Yankees might be the AL favorites!"
Lose entire lead in 13 days to surging Toronto: "the Yankees stink!"
Back in first: "are the Yankees good enough to stay in first and hold off Toronto?"
Embarrassed by the Houston Astros in late-August, fall back into second place for remainder of season: "no!"
Late night, September 30, lose third straight to Boston: "are the Yankees even going to make the playoffs?!"
Late night, October 1: "looks like it!"
Mid-morning, October 2: "the Yankees will be lucky to even win the Wild Card game."
YES Network
It's been an absolutely ridiculous six months for the New York Yankees. The team has gone from low expectations in March to possibly being the best team in the American League in July to looking like an old, tired team that may limp into the Wild Card game OR limp into their living rooms to watch the Wild Card game on television to clinching a spot in that game on the fourth-to-last day of the regular season.
Thursday's 4-1 win behind a gutsy performance from the rejuvenated CC Sabathia (5 IP, 1 ER), stellar relief work from Adam Warren (three one-hit innings) & a trio of solo home runs, put New York in the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
The formula for this postseason-securing victory was the formula for a lot of Yankee wins: good enough starting pitching, excellent work from the bullpen and hitting the ball out of the park.
So, they qualified for the postseason (one more win or a Houston loss this weekend and NY will host Tuesday's play-in game), but things are never easy for the 2015 Yankees.
The 2015 Yankees, a timeline
Spring Training: "the Yankees will be lucky to finish .500."
Mid-April (3-6 start): "see?!"
Win 13 of 16, climb into first place: "the Yankees are over-achieving!"
Season-high seven-game AL East lead in late-July: "the Yankees might be the AL favorites!"
Lose entire lead in 13 days to surging Toronto: "the Yankees stink!"
Back in first: "are the Yankees good enough to stay in first and hold off Toronto?"
Embarrassed by the Houston Astros in late-August, fall back into second place for remainder of season: "no!"
Late night, September 30, lose third straight to Boston: "are the Yankees even going to make the playoffs?!"
Late night, October 1: "looks like it!"
Mid-morning, October 2: "the Yankees will be lucky to even win the Wild Card game."
Game 298 - Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres
October 1 at Petco Park in San Diego, CA
Fox Sports San Diego
Mark Davis!
Glad to get one, final late afternoon to spend with Mr. Davis.
It wasn't like his September 10 performance, but Davis did spend the entire game thanking seemingly every single person that works on the Fox broadcasts, at Petco Park & in the city of San Diego.
He also provided some great nonsense:
"he gave up about six eight hoppers and three bleeders"
"and that is paint from Ian Kennedy"
"that had some breeze on that one, that was a pretty good pitch"
"every grind"/"tough grind"
"coming out of your zapatos! that's shoes, by the way"
"so you don't go you know what over tea kettle"
(Padres uniform) "best looking uni there...in the whole, wide world!"
"how about a hardy thanks to the Friar faithful?"
"petrol. 97 octane coming at you from Craig Kimbrel"
And while thanking some of the people who handle the technical side of the broadcasts, play-by-play man Dick Enberg said "how would you like to do that?"
Davis: "I can't even plug in a charger for crying out loud!"
Alright, Mark, take it easy.
STATS WE DON'T NEED
Jedd Gyorko
3 game hitting streak
.333 (4-for-12)
Fox Sports San Diego
Mark Davis!
Glad to get one, final late afternoon to spend with Mr. Davis.
It wasn't like his September 10 performance, but Davis did spend the entire game thanking seemingly every single person that works on the Fox broadcasts, at Petco Park & in the city of San Diego.
He also provided some great nonsense:
"he gave up about six eight hoppers and three bleeders"
"and that is paint from Ian Kennedy"
"that had some breeze on that one, that was a pretty good pitch"
"every grind"/"tough grind"
"coming out of your zapatos! that's shoes, by the way"
"so you don't go you know what over tea kettle"
(Padres uniform) "best looking uni there...in the whole, wide world!"
"how about a hardy thanks to the Friar faithful?"
"petrol. 97 octane coming at you from Craig Kimbrel"
And while thanking some of the people who handle the technical side of the broadcasts, play-by-play man Dick Enberg said "how would you like to do that?"
Davis: "I can't even plug in a charger for crying out loud!"
Alright, Mark, take it easy.
STATS WE DON'T NEED
Jedd Gyorko
3 game hitting streak
.333 (4-for-12)
Game 297 - New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies
October 1 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA
Comcast Sportsnet
Quite a performance from Jerad Eickhoff, who tossed seven scoreless innings as the Phillies completed a sweep with a 3-0 win.
Eickhoff was a 15th-round selection by the Texas Rangers in the 2011 draft and was part of the Cole Hamels trade in July. The rookie right-hander was making his eighth career start on Thursday afternoon and he used an excellent curve ball to strike out 10 and allow just four hits.
With the threat of bad weather this evening the game was moved from its original 7 p.m. start time. We'd have to file this under Not Quite a Capacity Crowd:
* Reporter Gregg Murphy:
"Where else do you want to celebrate your bachelorette party than Citizens Bank Park?"
Well, Gregg, I'm not a woman, nor have I ever been to a bachelorette party. But I've got to figure my answer to that question is anywhere else on planet Earth?
* Couple of Matt Stairs Moments I'd like to mention.
On guessing wrong on a pitch
"Next thing you know, you're popping it up and 'aww, man!'"
On how quickly the game was going in the early innings
"At P.F. Chang's, we're going to have an early dinner!"
On.....something
"No-man land....that no-man area.....what is it?"
Play-by-play man Tom McCarthy: "no-man's land"
"Thank you."
Comcast Sportsnet
Quite a performance from Jerad Eickhoff, who tossed seven scoreless innings as the Phillies completed a sweep with a 3-0 win.
Eickhoff was a 15th-round selection by the Texas Rangers in the 2011 draft and was part of the Cole Hamels trade in July. The rookie right-hander was making his eighth career start on Thursday afternoon and he used an excellent curve ball to strike out 10 and allow just four hits.
With the threat of bad weather this evening the game was moved from its original 7 p.m. start time. We'd have to file this under Not Quite a Capacity Crowd:
* Reporter Gregg Murphy:
"Where else do you want to celebrate your bachelorette party than Citizens Bank Park?"
Well, Gregg, I'm not a woman, nor have I ever been to a bachelorette party. But I've got to figure my answer to that question is anywhere else on planet Earth?
* Couple of Matt Stairs Moments I'd like to mention.
On guessing wrong on a pitch
"Next thing you know, you're popping it up and 'aww, man!'"
On how quickly the game was going in the early innings
"At P.F. Chang's, we're going to have an early dinner!"
On.....something
"No-man land....that no-man area.....what is it?"
Play-by-play man Tom McCarthy: "no-man's land"
"Thank you."
Game 296 - Boston Redsox at New York Yankees
September 30 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
YES Network
Game 295 - Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays
September 30 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL
Fox Sports Florida
A couple items to go over with the Marlins' broadcast team, mainly:
Color commentator Tommy Hutton:
"Most clubs are interested in pitching."
Thanks for the insight, Tommy!
2. Reporter Jessica Blaylock on injured Miami shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and the chances he plays in the final four games of the season for the (after Wednesday) 69-89 Marlins:
"He could play in an emergency situation."
Jessica!
* 40-man roster
* It's October
* The Marlins are horrible
When is it EVER going to be an emergency situation for the Marlins over the final four games of this season?
Fox Sports Florida
A couple items to go over with the Marlins' broadcast team, mainly:
Color commentator Tommy Hutton:
"Most clubs are interested in pitching."
Thanks for the insight, Tommy!
2. Reporter Jessica Blaylock on injured Miami shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and the chances he plays in the final four games of the season for the (after Wednesday) 69-89 Marlins:
"He could play in an emergency situation."
Jessica!
* 40-man roster
* It's October
* The Marlins are horrible
When is it EVER going to be an emergency situation for the Marlins over the final four games of this season?
Game 294 - St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates
September 30 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA
ROOT Sports
Look, there are far too many instant replays shown of each particular play during television broadcasts.
A big hit, home run, important strike out, great defensive play? If you want to show that replay more than once, I suppose that's fine. But a lot of the time you get multiple replays of everything.
In this afternoon's 8-2 Pittsburgh win we saw the following:
* Bottom 4, Kolten Wong missed a tag at second base.
Total replays shown: 5
Yes, it was close and the base runner, Aramis Ramriez did a good job of avoiding the tag. But five replays?
* Bottom 5, come backer to the mound, throw is late to first.
Total replays shown: 4
Yes, the pitcher, Miguel Socolovich, looked to injure himself on the play. But four replays?
* Top 2, ground ball to first base that was initially bobbled by Pedro Alvarez, but then Alvarez jogged to first for the easy 3-U put out.
TOTAL REPLAYS SHOWN: THREE
I think we should set the maximum amount of replays to two, unless it's being challenged and/OR a middle-aged man tumbles onto the field trying to retrieve a rolling foul ball.
ROOT Sports
Look, there are far too many instant replays shown of each particular play during television broadcasts.
A big hit, home run, important strike out, great defensive play? If you want to show that replay more than once, I suppose that's fine. But a lot of the time you get multiple replays of everything.
In this afternoon's 8-2 Pittsburgh win we saw the following:
* Bottom 4, Kolten Wong missed a tag at second base.
Total replays shown: 5
Yes, it was close and the base runner, Aramis Ramriez did a good job of avoiding the tag. But five replays?
* Bottom 5, come backer to the mound, throw is late to first.
Total replays shown: 4
Yes, the pitcher, Miguel Socolovich, looked to injure himself on the play. But four replays?
* Top 2, ground ball to first base that was initially bobbled by Pedro Alvarez, but then Alvarez jogged to first for the easy 3-U put out.
TOTAL REPLAYS SHOWN: THREE
I think we should set the maximum amount of replays to two, unless it's being challenged and/OR a middle-aged man tumbles onto the field trying to retrieve a rolling foul ball.
Game 293 - Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants
September 29 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA
Comcast Sportsnet
With a division title in sight, the Dodgers turned to Clayton Kershaw and the left-hander was brilliant.
Kershaw, who came into the game with a 1.61 career era against SF, threw a one-hit shut out, striking out 13 and LA clinched the NL West with an 8-0 victory.
Kershaw was a little shaky in the early innings, but a soft line drive single and a walk in the third inning were the only San Francisco base runners, and the southpaw struck out the side in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings. From the fifth through the first out of the ninth, thanks to a lot of nasty sliders and curve balls, he fanned 11 of 13 batters.
Some other things to discuss:
* Enrique Hernandez led off the third inning with solo home run off Madison Bumgarner. Color commentator Mike Krukow then called Hernandez "the Bumgarner whisperer", so he wasn't going to get away with that.
* We can call this Stats We Don't Need (Highlighted). Here's Bumgarner as a hitter:
He's 9-for-15 when the ball is thrown directly down the middle of the plate. Fine. He's a good hitting pitcher and he's also a pitcher, so that makes some sense.
But: 1-for-2 (.500) on balls on the inside part of the plate? You don't need to highlight that and also point out that it's ABOVE MLB AVG (and we also don't need to be told .000 is BELOW MLB AVG). What you're saying is, .500 is better and .000 is worse than league average?
Thanks, broadcast team!
* I think we have a winner for 300 Game Season Sweater of the Year
To be honest, it was a one-sweater race.
Comcast Sportsnet
With a division title in sight, the Dodgers turned to Clayton Kershaw and the left-hander was brilliant.
Kershaw, who came into the game with a 1.61 career era against SF, threw a one-hit shut out, striking out 13 and LA clinched the NL West with an 8-0 victory.
Kershaw was a little shaky in the early innings, but a soft line drive single and a walk in the third inning were the only San Francisco base runners, and the southpaw struck out the side in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings. From the fifth through the first out of the ninth, thanks to a lot of nasty sliders and curve balls, he fanned 11 of 13 batters.
Some other things to discuss:
* Enrique Hernandez led off the third inning with solo home run off Madison Bumgarner. Color commentator Mike Krukow then called Hernandez "the Bumgarner whisperer", so he wasn't going to get away with that.
* We can call this Stats We Don't Need (Highlighted). Here's Bumgarner as a hitter:
He's 9-for-15 when the ball is thrown directly down the middle of the plate. Fine. He's a good hitting pitcher and he's also a pitcher, so that makes some sense.
But: 1-for-2 (.500) on balls on the inside part of the plate? You don't need to highlight that and also point out that it's ABOVE MLB AVG (and we also don't need to be told .000 is BELOW MLB AVG). What you're saying is, .500 is better and .000 is worse than league average?
Thanks, broadcast team!
* I think we have a winner for 300 Game Season Sweater of the Year
To be honest, it was a one-sweater race.
Games 291 & 292 - Boston Redsox at New York Yankees
September 28/29 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
YES Network
Game 290 - Cincinnati Reds at Washington Nationals
September 28 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC
MASN
MASN
Game 289 - San Francisco Giants at Oakland A's
September 27 at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, CA
CSN
With Tim Hudson and the Giants in town, Oakland spent the weekend honoring its former trio of starting pitchers (Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder). During Sunday's finale, a 5-4 Giants' win, a fan near home plate decided to honor the pitchers by displaying their jerseys.
I know Hudson & Zito are still active and Mulder hasn't pitched since 2008, but this is just ridiculous:
What is going on with that Mulder jersey?!
Two possibilities
1. It was made Sunday morning with iron-on letters/numbers, then used to clean up several spills.
2. It was balled up and used as a football in the parking lot before the game.
Pick off attempts
The situation was first and third with two outs in the fifth and the Giants leading 5-0. San Francisco pitcher Chris Heston tried to pick off Billy Butler at third.
That's Billy Ray Butler: five career steals, none of which were a straight steal of home.
Also, Butler had a 9 1/2-inch lead.
CSN
With Tim Hudson and the Giants in town, Oakland spent the weekend honoring its former trio of starting pitchers (Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder). During Sunday's finale, a 5-4 Giants' win, a fan near home plate decided to honor the pitchers by displaying their jerseys.
I know Hudson & Zito are still active and Mulder hasn't pitched since 2008, but this is just ridiculous:
What is going on with that Mulder jersey?!
Two possibilities
1. It was made Sunday morning with iron-on letters/numbers, then used to clean up several spills.
2. It was balled up and used as a football in the parking lot before the game.
Pick off attempts
The situation was first and third with two outs in the fifth and the Giants leading 5-0. San Francisco pitcher Chris Heston tried to pick off Billy Butler at third.
That's Billy Ray Butler: five career steals, none of which were a straight steal of home.
Also, Butler had a 9 1/2-inch lead.
Game 288 - Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers
September 27 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI
Fox Sports North
The Twins are fighting for one of the two wild card spots in the American League, and there might not be anything better for a contending team in September, 2015 to look out on the mound and see Randy Wolf.
The left-hander allowed six runs (four earned) in the top of the second, which was more than enough in Minnesota's 7-1 victory.
As Wolf was lifted following Torii Hunter's RBI-single, which made it 6-0, color commentator Bert Blyleven wondered whether this was the 39-year old Wolf's final start. But that's not what was hilarious about Blyleven's Randy Wolf Thoughts from Sunday afternoon.
1. First, Blyleven said "Randy Wolf has had a great career."
Great?
I'd go with 'long'.
2. Just before Wolf threw his final pitch of the day, Blyleven said "Randy Wolf about ready to call 'Wolf'".
Now, Bert was probably thinking about the boy who cried wolf, but that wouldn't make any sense. Incredibly, what Blyleven said actually makes less sense.
Number of times the word 'wolf' was used in this post, including in this sentence: 10
Fox Sports North
The Twins are fighting for one of the two wild card spots in the American League, and there might not be anything better for a contending team in September, 2015 to look out on the mound and see Randy Wolf.
The left-hander allowed six runs (four earned) in the top of the second, which was more than enough in Minnesota's 7-1 victory.
As Wolf was lifted following Torii Hunter's RBI-single, which made it 6-0, color commentator Bert Blyleven wondered whether this was the 39-year old Wolf's final start. But that's not what was hilarious about Blyleven's Randy Wolf Thoughts from Sunday afternoon.
1. First, Blyleven said "Randy Wolf has had a great career."
Great?
I'd go with 'long'.
2. Just before Wolf threw his final pitch of the day, Blyleven said "Randy Wolf about ready to call 'Wolf'".
Now, Bert was probably thinking about the boy who cried wolf, but that wouldn't make any sense. Incredibly, what Blyleven said actually makes less sense.
Number of times the word 'wolf' was used in this post, including in this sentence: 10
Game 287 - Chicago Whitesox at New York Yankees
September 27 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
STATS WE DON'T NEED
Courtesy of YES:
Brian McCann
Career vs. Zach Putnam
1-for-2 (.500 BA), 1 hr
YES Network
STATS WE DON'T NEED
Courtesy of YES:
Brian McCann
Career vs. Zach Putnam
1-for-2 (.500 BA), 1 hr
Game 285 - Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
September 25 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
ABC 7
I made a promise to myself to avoid Len Kasper for the remainder of the season, and I make sure I keep my promises about Len Kasper. So Friday afternoon (3-2 Pirates' win) we're doing a Mute Mix.
The Who - Quadrophenia
Duke Ellington - Uptown
Supremes - I Hear a Symphony
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Flight of the Cosmic Hippo
Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
Billy Joel - The Stranger
Chuck Berry - Maybelline
Berlin Philharmonic - Gustav Holst: The Planets
Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy on the French Riviera
Shangri-Las - Best of the Shangri-Las
ABC 7
I made a promise to myself to avoid Len Kasper for the remainder of the season, and I make sure I keep my promises about Len Kasper. So Friday afternoon (3-2 Pirates' win) we're doing a Mute Mix.
The Who - Quadrophenia
Duke Ellington - Uptown
Supremes - I Hear a Symphony
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Flight of the Cosmic Hippo
Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
Billy Joel - The Stranger
Chuck Berry - Maybelline
Berlin Philharmonic - Gustav Holst: The Planets
Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy on the French Riviera
Shangri-Las - Best of the Shangri-Las
Game 284 - Philadelphia Phillies at Miami Marlins
September 24 at Marlins Park in Miami, FL
Fox Sports Florida
Estimated attendance: 249.
Fox Sports Florida
Estimated attendance: 249.
Game 283 - Chicago Whitesox at New York Yankees
September 24 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
Let's start with another ridiculous YES scouting report:
* Chicago's been having trouble scoring runs? OK. That's fine.
* They are 5-15 all-time at the new Yankee Stadium? Alright, that's more a fact, but still, it just means the scouting report on the Whitesox is they aren't very good in NY.
* The franchise just won its 9,000th game? NOT EVEN CLOSE TO A SCOUTING REPORT.
Hope
Here's something Michael Kay said in the second inning:
"I hope that a lot of kids still play Strat-O-Matic."
The last time Michael Kay met a kid must've been in 1988 because there's no other reason for him to say something that absurd.
And maybe a few kids play Strat-O-Matic, meaning 17.
A LOT?!
Starting Friday, September 25 I'm going to ask as many kids as I can if they've ever heard of Strat-O-Matic. My findings will appear here.
* Couple other things from this one, a 3-2 Yankees' win.
- In the first inning I called Chase Headley 'Chase Headwey', so on this site he will now always be referred to as Chase Headwey.
- Let's welcome to the Webb Bobo All Stars umpire Fieldin Culbreth.
YES Network
Let's start with another ridiculous YES scouting report:
* Chicago's been having trouble scoring runs? OK. That's fine.
* They are 5-15 all-time at the new Yankee Stadium? Alright, that's more a fact, but still, it just means the scouting report on the Whitesox is they aren't very good in NY.
* The franchise just won its 9,000th game? NOT EVEN CLOSE TO A SCOUTING REPORT.
Hope
Here's something Michael Kay said in the second inning:
"I hope that a lot of kids still play Strat-O-Matic."
The last time Michael Kay met a kid must've been in 1988 because there's no other reason for him to say something that absurd.
And maybe a few kids play Strat-O-Matic, meaning 17.
A LOT?!
Starting Friday, September 25 I'm going to ask as many kids as I can if they've ever heard of Strat-O-Matic. My findings will appear here.
* Couple other things from this one, a 3-2 Yankees' win.
- In the first inning I called Chase Headley 'Chase Headwey', so on this site he will now always be referred to as Chase Headwey.
- Let's welcome to the Webb Bobo All Stars umpire Fieldin Culbreth.
Game 282 - New York Yankees at Toronto Bluejays
September 23 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada
Sportsnet
Sportsnet
Game 281 - Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers
September 22 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
Fox Sports Arizona
Fox Sports Arizona
Game 280 - New York Yankees at Toronto Bluejays
September 22 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada
Sportsnet
I don't ever ride on roller coasters because it's silly to do so and don't ever use the term "real roller coaster ride". BUT, if I'm ever going to use the term, tonight's game might as well be my first.
Sorry, just give me a second here. I'm a little nervous.
OK.
Tonight's game was a real roller coaster ride!
The Yankees pulled out a 6-4 win in 10 innings to keep their AL East Division hopes alive (the win got them within 2 1/2 with 12 to play, including one more with first-place Toronto on Wednesday) despite the fact that:
* The Yankees had two runners thrown out on the bases by Jose Bautista. First, Dustin Ackley at third in the seventh (following a safe call which was overturned by a challenge), then Chris Young at home in the ninth.
Ackley tried to go first-to-third and was thrown out by a step on a nice throw & catch/tag by Josh Donaldson. What was New York's strategy in the ninth? Not entirely sure, but this was written on a piece of paper that fell out of third base coach Joe Espada's ear:
To: Joe
In reference to: Late inning strategy
That guy in right field with the cannon for an arm? He threw on the fly to get one of our runners two innings ago. We get a guy at third this time, if the same right fielder catches a medium-depth fly ball? SEND HIM HOME!
The second-worst thing you can see during a baseball game is Jose Bautista satisfied with himself. (Worst: David Ortiz taking 3 1/2 days to round the bases on a home run).
* Down 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th (Carlos Beltran had hit his second go-ahead home run in the eighth or later in Toronto this season a half-inning before), Toronto loaded the bases and had one of its best hitters (Edwin Encarnacion) at the plate.
* Toronto tied the game at 3-3 on a Dioner Navarro solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, THEN loaded the bases again with the best hitter in the American League (Donaldson) at the plate.
* Honestly, the Bluejays are a better team.
Yet: Dellin Betances struck out Encarnacion, Andrew Miller shook off the ridiculous Navarro home run to strike out Donaldson when he had nowhere to put him, and Greg Bird delivered a gigantic, three-run home run in the top of the tenth for the winning runs.
The rookie Bird has been incredible - six of his 10 home runs have given New York the lead - and also, the 10th-inning rally started with a Brian McCann bunt single against the shift and Slade Heathcott reaching on a catcher's interference. Again: ridiculous evening of baseball.
Sometimes the better team loses, and though it looked on several occasions like they wouldn't on Tuesday, the wild card-leading Yankees found a way.
I'll be spending the rest of the night/early morning changing out an old cool rag for my forehead for a new one every 20 minutes while listening to the whale sounds CD.
Sportsnet
I don't ever ride on roller coasters because it's silly to do so and don't ever use the term "real roller coaster ride". BUT, if I'm ever going to use the term, tonight's game might as well be my first.
Sorry, just give me a second here. I'm a little nervous.
OK.
Tonight's game was a real roller coaster ride!
The Yankees pulled out a 6-4 win in 10 innings to keep their AL East Division hopes alive (the win got them within 2 1/2 with 12 to play, including one more with first-place Toronto on Wednesday) despite the fact that:
* The Yankees had two runners thrown out on the bases by Jose Bautista. First, Dustin Ackley at third in the seventh (following a safe call which was overturned by a challenge), then Chris Young at home in the ninth.
Ackley tried to go first-to-third and was thrown out by a step on a nice throw & catch/tag by Josh Donaldson. What was New York's strategy in the ninth? Not entirely sure, but this was written on a piece of paper that fell out of third base coach Joe Espada's ear:
To: Joe
In reference to: Late inning strategy
That guy in right field with the cannon for an arm? He threw on the fly to get one of our runners two innings ago. We get a guy at third this time, if the same right fielder catches a medium-depth fly ball? SEND HIM HOME!
The second-worst thing you can see during a baseball game is Jose Bautista satisfied with himself. (Worst: David Ortiz taking 3 1/2 days to round the bases on a home run).
* Down 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th (Carlos Beltran had hit his second go-ahead home run in the eighth or later in Toronto this season a half-inning before), Toronto loaded the bases and had one of its best hitters (Edwin Encarnacion) at the plate.
* Toronto tied the game at 3-3 on a Dioner Navarro solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, THEN loaded the bases again with the best hitter in the American League (Donaldson) at the plate.
* Honestly, the Bluejays are a better team.
Yet: Dellin Betances struck out Encarnacion, Andrew Miller shook off the ridiculous Navarro home run to strike out Donaldson when he had nowhere to put him, and Greg Bird delivered a gigantic, three-run home run in the top of the tenth for the winning runs.
The rookie Bird has been incredible - six of his 10 home runs have given New York the lead - and also, the 10th-inning rally started with a Brian McCann bunt single against the shift and Slade Heathcott reaching on a catcher's interference. Again: ridiculous evening of baseball.
Sometimes the better team loses, and though it looked on several occasions like they wouldn't on Tuesday, the wild card-leading Yankees found a way.
I'll be spending the rest of the night/early morning changing out an old cool rag for my forehead for a new one every 20 minutes while listening to the whale sounds CD.
Game 279 - Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals
September 21 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
Fox Sports Midwest
Fox Sports Midwest
Game 278 - Chicago Whitesox at Detroit Tigers
September 21 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI
Fox Sports Detroit
Jeff Samardzija opened this day-night doubleheader with one of the season's dominant performances, limiting Detroit to one single in a complete game, 2-0 victory.
Samardzija, who lowered his ERA to 5.04, retired the first 12 batters he faced, gave up a lead off single to Victor Martinez in the fifth, then set down the final 15 in order. He threw 88 pitches and just 28 were balls. Outstanding performance.
Of course, it's September & the Tigers stink. So here were a few of the people the Chicago right-hander got to face more than once:
Steven Moya
Bryan Holaday
Tyler Collins
Dixon Machado
Jefry Marte
Fox Sports Detroit
Jeff Samardzija opened this day-night doubleheader with one of the season's dominant performances, limiting Detroit to one single in a complete game, 2-0 victory.
Samardzija, who lowered his ERA to 5.04, retired the first 12 batters he faced, gave up a lead off single to Victor Martinez in the fifth, then set down the final 15 in order. He threw 88 pitches and just 28 were balls. Outstanding performance.
Of course, it's September & the Tigers stink. So here were a few of the people the Chicago right-hander got to face more than once:
Steven Moya
Bryan Holaday
Tyler Collins
Dixon Machado
Jefry Marte
Game 277 - New York Yankees at New York Mets
September 20 at Citi Field in Queens, NY
ESPN
I know the Mets have Matt Harvey on a plan to limit his innings, but I'd just like to thank them for involving the Yankees in that plan.
Harvey pitched the first five innings and here's what the Yankees were able to do against him: one walk & one infield single.
And what they were able to do in innings 6-8 against the Mets' bullpen: eight hits, including a pair of 3-run hrs (Dustin Ackley, Greg Bird), six walks and 11 runs.
Dear Mets,
Thanks!
Sincerely,
The Yankees AL East division title chances
[Note: I originally wrote the following versions of Greg Bird's name: Breg Bird, Breg Girb, Greb Bird]
ESPN
I know the Mets have Matt Harvey on a plan to limit his innings, but I'd just like to thank them for involving the Yankees in that plan.
Harvey pitched the first five innings and here's what the Yankees were able to do against him: one walk & one infield single.
And what they were able to do in innings 6-8 against the Mets' bullpen: eight hits, including a pair of 3-run hrs (Dustin Ackley, Greg Bird), six walks and 11 runs.
Dear Mets,
Thanks!
Sincerely,
The Yankees AL East division title chances
[Note: I originally wrote the following versions of Greg Bird's name: Breg Bird, Breg Girb, Greb Bird]
Game 275 - St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
September 18 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
ABC 7
Starlin Castro tied a career-high with 7 RBIs, homering twice (two-run shot in the fifth, three-run shot an inning later) in an 8-3 Cubs' victory, but a more important moment occurred in the top of the ninth.
Now, Len Kasper & Jim Deshaies aren't the most popular announcing team in baseball (my father, a lifelong Cubs fan, has often hoped lightning would strike the broadcast booth, perhaps a bit "extreme", but you get the point). Deshaies uses phrases like "beak high" and "squirrely hop", and Kasper just isn't a very good play-by-play man. In the ninth, Cubs were an out away, crowd was on its feet & it was loud at Wrigley. The cameras got a quick shot of this young man
Kasper: "Sums it up right there, that shot."
Pardon me, Len? WHAT sums up WHAT?
We have a kid with a sticker on his forehead eating frozen lemonade. I personally think this particular photo sums up a summer day for a 10-year old kid who may have watched a couple innings of a Cubs game, but otherwise ate frozen lemonade and put stickers on his forehead.
I think what Len Kasper really meant was Len Kasper commenting the way he did about this photo sums up listening to Len Kasper for 3 1/2 hours.
ABC 7
Starlin Castro tied a career-high with 7 RBIs, homering twice (two-run shot in the fifth, three-run shot an inning later) in an 8-3 Cubs' victory, but a more important moment occurred in the top of the ninth.
Now, Len Kasper & Jim Deshaies aren't the most popular announcing team in baseball (my father, a lifelong Cubs fan, has often hoped lightning would strike the broadcast booth, perhaps a bit "extreme", but you get the point). Deshaies uses phrases like "beak high" and "squirrely hop", and Kasper just isn't a very good play-by-play man. In the ninth, Cubs were an out away, crowd was on its feet & it was loud at Wrigley. The cameras got a quick shot of this young man
Kasper: "Sums it up right there, that shot."
Pardon me, Len? WHAT sums up WHAT?
We have a kid with a sticker on his forehead eating frozen lemonade. I personally think this particular photo sums up a summer day for a 10-year old kid who may have watched a couple innings of a Cubs game, but otherwise ate frozen lemonade and put stickers on his forehead.
I think what Len Kasper really meant was Len Kasper commenting the way he did about this photo sums up listening to Len Kasper for 3 1/2 hours.
Game 274 - Houston Astros at Texas Rangers
September 17 at The Stadium The Texas Rangers Play In in Arlington, TX
Fox Sports Southwest
It's remarkable what has happened in the AL West over the last three weeks.
After the games of August 26, the Astros led the division by 5 1/2 games, but since, Houston has gone 6-13 while the Rangers have won 15 of 21 to move into first place.
That run includes a four-game sweep of Houston, which concluded with Thursday's 8-3 victory (Mitch Moreland's opposite field, three-run home run in the third that just snuck out got the scoring started).
Texas has a 2 1/2 game lead with 16 to play.
Fox Sports Southwest
It's remarkable what has happened in the AL West over the last three weeks.
After the games of August 26, the Astros led the division by 5 1/2 games, but since, Houston has gone 6-13 while the Rangers have won 15 of 21 to move into first place.
That run includes a four-game sweep of Houston, which concluded with Thursday's 8-3 victory (Mitch Moreland's opposite field, three-run home run in the third that just snuck out got the scoring started).
Texas has a 2 1/2 game lead with 16 to play.
Game 273 - Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates
September 17 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA
ROOT Sports
ROOT Sports
Game 272 - Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers
September 16 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
ROOT Sports
Instead of a Mute Mix, we're doing just the singles for this late game on the west coast, won by the Dodgers 2-0. Welcome to 300 Game Season's first Singles Night.
Might have to change that name. I don't think calling it Singles Night is going to work.
Blue Mountain Hop/Buffalo Nickel - Bela Fleck
Prisoner/www - Har Mar Superstar
Whistling Past the Graveyard/Too Long - Sailing to Denver
Slipping/Plastic Cups - Skybox
Zak and Sara/Fred Jones Part 2 - Ben Folds
Spanish Harlem/Don't Play That Song - Aretha
Jeru/Venus de Milo - Miles Davis
However Much I Booze/Blue, Red & Gray - The Who
Bongo Man/Stand up & Fight Back - Jimmy Cliff
Shaking Through/Laughing - REM
Dogs Got A Bone/Needles In My Eyes - Beta Band
Mother Goose/Wond'ring Aloud - Jethro Tull
Janie Jones/Police & Thieves - The Clash
Can I Get To Know You Better/Elenore - Turtles
Big Country/Lover's Leap - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones live
One Fine Day - Chiffons/Party Lights - Claudine Clark
ROOT Sports
Instead of a Mute Mix, we're doing just the singles for this late game on the west coast, won by the Dodgers 2-0. Welcome to 300 Game Season's first Singles Night.
Might have to change that name. I don't think calling it Singles Night is going to work.
Blue Mountain Hop/Buffalo Nickel - Bela Fleck
Prisoner/www - Har Mar Superstar
Whistling Past the Graveyard/Too Long - Sailing to Denver
Slipping/Plastic Cups - Skybox
Zak and Sara/Fred Jones Part 2 - Ben Folds
Spanish Harlem/Don't Play That Song - Aretha
Jeru/Venus de Milo - Miles Davis
However Much I Booze/Blue, Red & Gray - The Who
Bongo Man/Stand up & Fight Back - Jimmy Cliff
Shaking Through/Laughing - REM
Dogs Got A Bone/Needles In My Eyes - Beta Band
Mother Goose/Wond'ring Aloud - Jethro Tull
Janie Jones/Police & Thieves - The Clash
Can I Get To Know You Better/Elenore - Turtles
Big Country/Lover's Leap - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones live
One Fine Day - Chiffons/Party Lights - Claudine Clark
Game 271 - New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
September 16 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL
YES Network
YES Network
Game 270 - Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians
September 15 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH
Fox Sports Kansas City
My favorite part of this game (Royals 2, Indians 0) was watching where this Mike Moustakas second-inning foul pop up landed:
Fox Sports Kansas City
My favorite part of this game (Royals 2, Indians 0) was watching where this Mike Moustakas second-inning foul pop up landed:
Game 269 - New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
September 15 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL
Sun Sports
If .130-hitting Nick Franklin, who is only in the game because another player got hurt, hits his second home run of the season for the game-winning runs, sometimes you just have to eat as many Combos as is humanly possible, watch 1998 World Series highlights and pass out on your living room floor.
Tip your cap.
I meant tip your cap.
Sun Sports
If .130-hitting Nick Franklin, who is only in the game because another player got hurt, hits his second home run of the season for the game-winning runs, sometimes you just have to eat as many Combos as is humanly possible, watch 1998 World Series highlights and pass out on your living room floor.
Tip your cap.
I meant tip your cap.
Game 268 - Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates
September 15 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA
ROOT Sports
ROOT Sports
Game 267 - Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants
September 14 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA
Comcast Sportsnet
Comcast Sportsnet
Game 266 - New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
September 14 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL
Sun Sports
There's a saying and it has to do with baseball being a cruel game or September is the cruelest month, or cruel, cruel summer. Something like that. This was a cruel game if you're a fan of either the Yankees or the Rays.
Tampa starter Erasmo Ramirez was really good. He was so good that he didn't give up a hit, or really any sort of hard contact, until Carlos Beltran ripped a single off of first baseman Richie Shaffer to lead off the top of the eighth inning.
CC Sabathia was good as well (6 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, none of which were hit hard), but after he departed, Tampa snapped a scoreless tie with a two-out run in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, the Yankees were down to their last out and the bases were empty. Rays' closer Brad Boxberger walked Brett Gardner on four pitches and Gardner eventually got a ridiculous jump and stole second without a throw.
Now, when Alex Rodriguez is going to right-center field with line drives, things are good for the New York DH and he did just that for the tying double. Alex was pumped up, but nothing could've prepared anyone for what happened two batters later. Tampa intentionally walked Brian McCann and rookie Slade Heathcott, coming to the plate for the first time since May 27, lined an opposite field, three-run home to left field that gave the Yankees a 4-1 victory.
It's been about a month and a half struggle for the Yankees, who went from seven games up in the AL East to three games (after Monday) back & a slim lead in the wild card race. They've had some great come back wins on the road in 2015, but based on the time of year, Monday was the best victory of the season.
Heathcott home run total views, including replays: 7
[Last update: 9/14 11:52 pm]
Sun Sports
There's a saying and it has to do with baseball being a cruel game or September is the cruelest month, or cruel, cruel summer. Something like that. This was a cruel game if you're a fan of either the Yankees or the Rays.
Tampa starter Erasmo Ramirez was really good. He was so good that he didn't give up a hit, or really any sort of hard contact, until Carlos Beltran ripped a single off of first baseman Richie Shaffer to lead off the top of the eighth inning.
CC Sabathia was good as well (6 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, none of which were hit hard), but after he departed, Tampa snapped a scoreless tie with a two-out run in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, the Yankees were down to their last out and the bases were empty. Rays' closer Brad Boxberger walked Brett Gardner on four pitches and Gardner eventually got a ridiculous jump and stole second without a throw.
Now, when Alex Rodriguez is going to right-center field with line drives, things are good for the New York DH and he did just that for the tying double. Alex was pumped up, but nothing could've prepared anyone for what happened two batters later. Tampa intentionally walked Brian McCann and rookie Slade Heathcott, coming to the plate for the first time since May 27, lined an opposite field, three-run home to left field that gave the Yankees a 4-1 victory.
It's been about a month and a half struggle for the Yankees, who went from seven games up in the AL East to three games (after Monday) back & a slim lead in the wild card race. They've had some great come back wins on the road in 2015, but based on the time of year, Monday was the best victory of the season.
Heathcott home run total views, including replays: 7
[Last update: 9/14 11:52 pm]
Game 265 - Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles
September 13 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD
ESPN
ESPN
Game 264 - Houston Astros at Los Angeles Angels
September 13 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA
ROOT Sports
This looked like an Angels' win up until the top of the 9th when Houston rallied for five runs against Huston Street and won 5-3.
The Los Angeles closer got the first two outs without much of a problem (infield pop out, strike out), then was 1-2 and 0-2 on the next two hitters. They both reached - Preston Tucker solo home run & George Springer triple - then Jose Altuve singled in a run to make it 3-2.
Carlos Correa hit a shot to second base and Taylor Featherston made a nice stop, but the ball got stuck in his glove (probably doesn't get the speedy Correa anyway). Jed Lowrie followed with a 3-run home run down the right field line that just got out (Kole Calhoun nearly made the catch) and incredibly the Astros had a 5-3 lead.
I'm not going to say I like watching the Angels blow a three-run lead in the ninth at home because I REALLY, REALLY like watching the Angels blow a three-run lead in the ninth at home.
All that was missing were dozens of shots of Mike Scioscia on the Los Angeles bench making his expired milk face.
Mute Mix
I saw Alan Ashby was handling the play-by-play, and I've already had plenty of Ashby for one baseball season, so it turned into a Mute Mix Sunday afternoon/evening.
Morning After Cuts - Skybox
Sanctuary - Tim Reynolds
Random classical tracks
Purple - Stone Temple Pilots
70s/80s mix
Weezer - Weezer
Forever Gold Live - Carlos Santana
Random tracks - The Temptations
ROOT Sports
This looked like an Angels' win up until the top of the 9th when Houston rallied for five runs against Huston Street and won 5-3.
The Los Angeles closer got the first two outs without much of a problem (infield pop out, strike out), then was 1-2 and 0-2 on the next two hitters. They both reached - Preston Tucker solo home run & George Springer triple - then Jose Altuve singled in a run to make it 3-2.
Carlos Correa hit a shot to second base and Taylor Featherston made a nice stop, but the ball got stuck in his glove (probably doesn't get the speedy Correa anyway). Jed Lowrie followed with a 3-run home run down the right field line that just got out (Kole Calhoun nearly made the catch) and incredibly the Astros had a 5-3 lead.
I'm not going to say I like watching the Angels blow a three-run lead in the ninth at home because I REALLY, REALLY like watching the Angels blow a three-run lead in the ninth at home.
All that was missing were dozens of shots of Mike Scioscia on the Los Angeles bench making his expired milk face.
Mute Mix
I saw Alan Ashby was handling the play-by-play, and I've already had plenty of Ashby for one baseball season, so it turned into a Mute Mix Sunday afternoon/evening.
Morning After Cuts - Skybox
Sanctuary - Tim Reynolds
Random classical tracks
Purple - Stone Temple Pilots
70s/80s mix
Weezer - Weezer
Forever Gold Live - Carlos Santana
Random tracks - The Temptations
Games 261 & 262 - Toronto Bluejays at New York Yankees
September 12 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
Fox/YES Network
In case any children or elderly ever stumble upon this site, I'd like to keep most of my comments on this doubleheader sweep by the Bluejays to myself.
I would like to say one thing: the top of the 11th inning of game one was the worst half-inning of the season for the Yankees, and perhaps the last 2 or 3 seasons. I didn't ask any New York players or coaches if they felt the same way, but I'm quite sure they felt the same way.
Here's how it went:
Bryan Mitchell pitching
Four-pitch walk
HBP
Walk
[accidental strike out]
Chasen Shreve pitching
Bases loaded walk, 6-5 Toronto
[accidental strike out. Kevin Pillar swung at everything, and everything was a ball]
Single, 7-5
Bases loaded walk, 8-5
Bases loaded walk, 9-5
Nick goody pitching
[accidental ground out to first base]
Fox/YES Network
In case any children or elderly ever stumble upon this site, I'd like to keep most of my comments on this doubleheader sweep by the Bluejays to myself.
I would like to say one thing: the top of the 11th inning of game one was the worst half-inning of the season for the Yankees, and perhaps the last 2 or 3 seasons. I didn't ask any New York players or coaches if they felt the same way, but I'm quite sure they felt the same way.
Here's how it went:
Bryan Mitchell pitching
Four-pitch walk
HBP
Walk
[accidental strike out]
Chasen Shreve pitching
Bases loaded walk, 6-5 Toronto
[accidental strike out. Kevin Pillar swung at everything, and everything was a ball]
Single, 7-5
Bases loaded walk, 8-5
Bases loaded walk, 9-5
Nick goody pitching
[accidental ground out to first base]
Game 260 - Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks
September 11 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ
Fox Sports Arizona
September call-ups are great because they provide more opportunities to add players to the Webb Bobo All Stars.
Our newest member is Arizona's Socrates Brito.
Mr. Brito, welcome to the squad.
Fox Sports Arizona
September call-ups are great because they provide more opportunities to add players to the Webb Bobo All Stars.
Our newest member is Arizona's Socrates Brito.
Mr. Brito, welcome to the squad.
Game 259 - Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins
September 11 at Marlins Park in Miami, FL
Fox Sports Florida
Official attendance: 149
[Source: looking at the stands and counting real quick before the 4th inning started]
Fox Sports Florida
Official attendance: 149
[Source: looking at the stands and counting real quick before the 4th inning started]
Game 258 - St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds
September 10 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, OH
Fox Sports Ohio
Let's break down Thursday evening's Baseball Phrases into a top 7:
7. "You begin to believe your clippings"
6. "Fits the Cardinals mode"
5. "Beset with injuries"
4. "Push the envelope"
3. "Twin killing"
2. "Prototypical lead off hitter"
1. "Plays the game the right way"
* Color commentator Chris Welsh also said "choke up four inches on the plate." He immediately corrected himself and changed "plate" to "bat", but it doesn't make it any less hilarious.
Fox Sports Ohio
Let's break down Thursday evening's Baseball Phrases into a top 7:
7. "You begin to believe your clippings"
6. "Fits the Cardinals mode"
5. "Beset with injuries"
4. "Push the envelope"
3. "Twin killing"
2. "Prototypical lead off hitter"
1. "Plays the game the right way"
* Color commentator Chris Welsh also said "choke up four inches on the plate." He immediately corrected himself and changed "plate" to "bat", but it doesn't make it any less hilarious.
Game 257 - Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres
September 10 at Petco Park in San Diego, CA
Fox Sports San Diego
Two Mark Davis things to get to:
1. Baseball Phrases
We haven't spent an afternoon with the Padres color commentator since early April, but it's like he never left us.
"Baseball activity"
"Live arm"
"Walt Weiss has got his head on a swivel"
"Small sample size"
"Bloop and a blast"
"That's petrol right there"
"Turn up the dial"
"In the cellar"
"Hitters paradise"
"Light up the radar gun"
2. Davis, Part 2
The Rockies hit four solo home runs (including Daniel Delscalso's game-winner in the eighth) to account for all of their runs in a 4-3 victory. Davis:
"It's so ironic. Four runs, all on home runs."
* And let's not forget play-by-play man Dick Enberg:
"The quarterback of the infield"
"Banner year"
"Swing the stick"
"Slicing into souvenir corner"
"Set the table"
"A Padre over every pillow" (the bases are loaded)
Fox Sports San Diego
Two Mark Davis things to get to:
1. Baseball Phrases
We haven't spent an afternoon with the Padres color commentator since early April, but it's like he never left us.
"Baseball activity"
"Live arm"
"Walt Weiss has got his head on a swivel"
"Small sample size"
"Bloop and a blast"
"That's petrol right there"
"Turn up the dial"
"In the cellar"
"Hitters paradise"
"Light up the radar gun"
2. Davis, Part 2
The Rockies hit four solo home runs (including Daniel Delscalso's game-winner in the eighth) to account for all of their runs in a 4-3 victory. Davis:
"It's so ironic. Four runs, all on home runs."
* And let's not forget play-by-play man Dick Enberg:
"The quarterback of the infield"
"Banner year"
"Swing the stick"
"Slicing into souvenir corner"
"Set the table"
"A Padre over every pillow" (the bases are loaded)
Game 256 - Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners
September 9 at Safeco Field in Seattle, WA
ROOT Sports
Vidal Nuno put together his finest start of the year in the Mariners' 6-0 win as he allowed just a first-inning single and a walk in seven shut out innings, striking out a career-high 10.
Pretty incredible that Nuno got through seven as he was at 64 pitches through three. He finished with 106 pitches.
A pair of hot-hitting Mariners helped at the plate as Kyle Seager extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 4-for-4, hr, 2 RBI night, and Mark Trumbo extended his to 11 with a 4-for-4, hr, 3 RBI effort.
ROOT Sports
Vidal Nuno put together his finest start of the year in the Mariners' 6-0 win as he allowed just a first-inning single and a walk in seven shut out innings, striking out a career-high 10.
Pretty incredible that Nuno got through seven as he was at 64 pitches through three. He finished with 106 pitches.
A pair of hot-hitting Mariners helped at the plate as Kyle Seager extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 4-for-4, hr, 2 RBI night, and Mark Trumbo extended his to 11 with a 4-for-4, hr, 3 RBI effort.
Game 255 - Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
September 9 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
YES Network
Game 254 - Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals
September 9 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
Fox Sports Midwest
Fox Sports Midwest
Pete Kozma: run scored
Game 253 - Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres
September 8 at Petco Park in San Diego, CA
Fox Sports San Diego
I don't have much to say about this game - a 2-1 Padres win on fielder's choice in the bottom of the ninth - except that the Rockies have two players, one is named Justin Morneau, the other is Dustin Garneau.
Justin MOR-NOH
Dustin GAR-NOH
Dustin Garneau is probably the closest anyone has ever come to actually being named Justin Morneau.
Fox Sports San Diego
I don't have much to say about this game - a 2-1 Padres win on fielder's choice in the bottom of the ninth - except that the Rockies have two players, one is named Justin Morneau, the other is Dustin Garneau.
Justin MOR-NOH
Dustin GAR-NOH
Dustin Garneau is probably the closest anyone has ever come to actually being named Justin Morneau.
Game 252 - Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals
September 7 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO
Fox Sports North
After spending Monday watching two other baseball games and a college football game, I've had enough noise for one evening. Let's go with a Mute Mix for this one, a 6-2 Twins' victory.
Radiohead - Creep EP
Various artists - mix
Widespread Panic - Light fuse get away (live)
Tori Vazquez - Louie
Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks
Freddy Jones Band - Waiting for the Night
John Lennon - Legend
Rusted Root - When I Woke
Marx Brothers - assorted tracks
Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds - assorted tracks
Fox Sports North
After spending Monday watching two other baseball games and a college football game, I've had enough noise for one evening. Let's go with a Mute Mix for this one, a 6-2 Twins' victory.
Radiohead - Creep EP
Various artists - mix
Widespread Panic - Light fuse get away (live)
Tori Vazquez - Louie
Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks
Freddy Jones Band - Waiting for the Night
John Lennon - Legend
Rusted Root - When I Woke
Marx Brothers - assorted tracks
Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds - assorted tracks
Game 251 - Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics
September 7 at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, CA
CSN
A solid afternoon of Baseball Phrases/regular nonsense during Oakland's 10-9 victory. Let's take a look:
"Risk-reward"
"Tip your hat"
"Pitcher's pitch"
"Prototypical clean up hitter"
"Clog up the bases"
"Do things by the book"
"Zone up"
"He's known to scatter the zone"
"Tap him on his seat pants"
"Using the whole field"
"I'm thinking this is auto-take right here"
(In one breath) "Another big hit, clutch hit, pinch hit"
"Good theater"
CSN
A solid afternoon of Baseball Phrases/regular nonsense during Oakland's 10-9 victory. Let's take a look:
"Risk-reward"
"Tip your hat"
"Pitcher's pitch"
"Prototypical clean up hitter"
"Clog up the bases"
"Do things by the book"
"Zone up"
"He's known to scatter the zone"
"Tap him on his seat pants"
"Using the whole field"
"I'm thinking this is auto-take right here"
(In one breath) "Another big hit, clutch hit, pinch hit"
"Good theater"
Game 250 - Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
September 7 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
A tight, tense game, as these teams often play was won by the Yankees 8-6.
New York hit three home runs - Alex Rodriguez & J.R. Murphy had the first two, but none was bigger than rookie Greg Bird's three-run home run to put the Yankees ahead for good in the seventh inning. Bird went down 0-2 to Brian Matusz, then crushed a weak breaking ball right down the middle into the Yankee bullpen to make it an 8-5 game.
* Here's how the top of the eighth inning went for New York reliever Dellin Betances:
A) walked the bases loaded
B) struck out the side
YES Network
A tight, tense game, as these teams often play was won by the Yankees 8-6.
New York hit three home runs - Alex Rodriguez & J.R. Murphy had the first two, but none was bigger than rookie Greg Bird's three-run home run to put the Yankees ahead for good in the seventh inning. Bird went down 0-2 to Brian Matusz, then crushed a weak breaking ball right down the middle into the Yankee bullpen to make it an 8-5 game.
* Here's how the top of the eighth inning went for New York reliever Dellin Betances:
A) walked the bases loaded
B) struck out the side
Game 249 - Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals
September 6 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
ESPN
Webb Bobo All Stars
Let's all welcome new Webb Bobo all star and Pirates' September call-up Bobby LaFromboise.
ESPN
Webb Bobo All Stars
Let's all welcome new Webb Bobo all star and Pirates' September call-up Bobby LaFromboise.
Games 247 & 248 - Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees
September 5/6 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
Early Saturday afternoon first pitch after a night game/long night for me, we're going Mute mix.
As always, these are actual albums/tracks that were played on actual tape players.
Since we're on the subject of muting things, I will say this about the YES crew and in particular, play-by-play fella Michael Kay:
I have not been horrified at the things Michael Kay has said this year. In fact, I have very nearly not noticed Michael Kay. In fact, I may be baking some Michael Kaykes in my (neighbor's) kitchen right now.
House of the Holy - Led Zeppelin
* I'd like to take this brief moment to say goodbye to an old friend. We officially lost my Houses of the Holy tape early today at the age of 42. He lived a good life & he's survived by his lovely wife Maryanne and their two kids, currently unnamed.
The tape played one final side and then made some gurgling sounds before passing.
Appalachian Memories - various artists
Sailing to Denver - Sailing to Denver
Various tracks - COLOR
Blood, Sweat & Beers - Bastard Suns
Random live tracks - Radiohead
When She Flies - Dolly Parton
Cumberland Records - sampler
Surround Sounds - The Chief
Funky Monkey - The Technician
Bluegrass Sessions - Bela Fleck
YES Network
Early Saturday afternoon first pitch after a night game/long night for me, we're going Mute mix.
As always, these are actual albums/tracks that were played on actual tape players.
Since we're on the subject of muting things, I will say this about the YES crew and in particular, play-by-play fella Michael Kay:
I have not been horrified at the things Michael Kay has said this year. In fact, I have very nearly not noticed Michael Kay. In fact, I may be baking some Michael Kaykes in my (neighbor's) kitchen right now.
House of the Holy - Led Zeppelin
* I'd like to take this brief moment to say goodbye to an old friend. We officially lost my Houses of the Holy tape early today at the age of 42. He lived a good life & he's survived by his lovely wife Maryanne and their two kids, currently unnamed.
The tape played one final side and then made some gurgling sounds before passing.
Appalachian Memories - various artists
Sailing to Denver - Sailing to Denver
Various tracks - COLOR
Blood, Sweat & Beers - Bastard Suns
Random live tracks - Radiohead
When She Flies - Dolly Parton
Cumberland Records - sampler
Surround Sounds - The Chief
Funky Monkey - The Technician
Bluegrass Sessions - Bela Fleck
Game 246 - Arizona Diamondbacks at Chicago Cubs
September 4 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
Comcast Sportsnet
Plenty of Baseball Phrases & assorted silliness from the broadcast team of Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies in this one, a 14-5 Cubs win. We'll break down the nonsense on an inning-by-inning basis.
Bottom 1
"Step on the gas pedal"
"Hostile environment"
"The wind is blowing out at Wrigley"
Top 2
"Popular guy in the clubhouse"
"Had some crazy english on it"
"Body language"
Top 3
"Deja vu all over again"
Top 4
"Early trip to the showers"
Bot 4
"Difference maker"
Bot 5
"Traffic on the bases"
"Joins the hit parade"
Bot 8
"Replacement level"
Top 9
"Put this one to bed"
"All bets were off"
Webb Bobo All Stars
Our newest member is Arizona reliever Silvino Bracho.
Don't do that, Zack Godley
The Arizona starter was not good - 3 2/3 IP, 6 ER - and one of his six walks was issued to Jon Lester. Lester, who picked up the first hit of his CAREER earlier this season, came into the game with an .021 on-base percentage.
Comcast Sportsnet
Plenty of Baseball Phrases & assorted silliness from the broadcast team of Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies in this one, a 14-5 Cubs win. We'll break down the nonsense on an inning-by-inning basis.
Bottom 1
"Step on the gas pedal"
"Hostile environment"
"The wind is blowing out at Wrigley"
Top 2
"Popular guy in the clubhouse"
"Had some crazy english on it"
"Body language"
Top 3
"Deja vu all over again"
Top 4
"Early trip to the showers"
Bot 4
"Difference maker"
Bot 5
"Traffic on the bases"
"Joins the hit parade"
Bot 8
"Replacement level"
Top 9
"Put this one to bed"
"All bets were off"
Webb Bobo All Stars
Our newest member is Arizona reliever Silvino Bracho.
Don't do that, Zack Godley
The Arizona starter was not good - 3 2/3 IP, 6 ER - and one of his six walks was issued to Jon Lester. Lester, who picked up the first hit of his CAREER earlier this season, came into the game with an .021 on-base percentage.
Game 245 - Chicago Whitesox at Minnesota Twins
September 3 at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN
Fox Sports North
Fox Sports North
Game 244 - Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals
September 2 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
ESPN
Wednesday was Rick Sutcliffe Night, which sounds like something that would happen at an American Legion, but no: broadcast booth of a Major League Baseball game.
Rick, you're up.
1. Sutcliffe: "I love the story of Evan Gattis. You know that some day it's gonna be a movie."
Who knows? You?
Gattis fought through depression & drug addiction and became a big league baseball player, which is great. I'm just not as convinced as "Sutty" (nickname patented by family friend Joe "The Machine" Benson) that the man's story will be made into a MOVIE.
2. Some more Sutcliffes:
"Without Bryce Harper, they're (Washington) the Philadelphia Phillies."
[silence]
"Right?"
[silence]
3. On the Nationals - "they can't afford to lose another game"
30 games left. Washington needs to go 30-0.
26-4? Not good enough. [insert one of three standard golf jokes] !
Other Sutcliffes:
"He's got that champion in him"
"And Max Scherzer will put the train back on the track"
"Heart of a champion"
"He left everything he had out there on that mound"
ESPN
Wednesday was Rick Sutcliffe Night, which sounds like something that would happen at an American Legion, but no: broadcast booth of a Major League Baseball game.
Rick, you're up.
1. Sutcliffe: "I love the story of Evan Gattis. You know that some day it's gonna be a movie."
Who knows? You?
Gattis fought through depression & drug addiction and became a big league baseball player, which is great. I'm just not as convinced as "Sutty" (nickname patented by family friend Joe "The Machine" Benson) that the man's story will be made into a MOVIE.
2. Some more Sutcliffes:
"Without Bryce Harper, they're (Washington) the Philadelphia Phillies."
[silence]
"Right?"
[silence]
3. On the Nationals - "they can't afford to lose another game"
30 games left. Washington needs to go 30-0.
26-4? Not good enough. [insert one of three standard golf jokes] !
Other Sutcliffes:
"He's got that champion in him"
"And Max Scherzer will put the train back on the track"
"Heart of a champion"
"He left everything he had out there on that mound"
Game 243 - New York Yankees at Boston Redsox
September 2 at Fenway Park in Boston, MA
NESN/YES Network
Baseball Phrases
Michael Kay, YES:
"monster seats"
NESN/YES Network
Baseball Phrases
Michael Kay, YES:
"monster seats"
Game 241 - Texas Rangers at San Diego Padres
September 1 at Petco Park in San Diego, CA
Fox Sports San Diego
Special moment here at 300 Game Season as we're about to have our first Late Night Mute Mix (Percy Sherman Moon Mix) (P.S.M.M)!
Instead of silly Dick Enberg, let's listen to several other things!
Von Grey - Von Grey EP
Dave Matthews - random rare tracks
The Strokes - Angles
Harpo Marx
Bernie Williams - The Journey Within
Traffic - live in Germany 1973
John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band
Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
Bob Marley - Satisfy My Soul
Fox Sports San Diego
Special moment here at 300 Game Season as we're about to have our first Late Night Mute Mix (Percy Sherman Moon Mix) (P.S.M.M)!
Instead of silly Dick Enberg, let's listen to several other things!
Von Grey - Von Grey EP
Dave Matthews - random rare tracks
The Strokes - Angles
Harpo Marx
Bernie Williams - The Journey Within
Traffic - live in Germany 1973
John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band
Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
Bob Marley - Satisfy My Soul
Game 240 - New York Yankees at Boston Redsox
September 1 at Fenway Park in Boston, MA
NESN
There was plenty to like about Tuesday's game, including the 3-1 Yankees' win. Michael Pineda pitched well (6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 K), Stephen Drew delivered what turned out to be the winning, two-run double in the fifth and Brett Gardner got his first extra base hit since May of 1972 with an insurance, solo home run in the eighth.
But my favorite part of the game?
David Ortiz
4 plate appearances
4 strike outs
NESN
There was plenty to like about Tuesday's game, including the 3-1 Yankees' win. Michael Pineda pitched well (6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 K), Stephen Drew delivered what turned out to be the winning, two-run double in the fifth and Brett Gardner got his first extra base hit since May of 1972 with an insurance, solo home run in the eighth.
But my favorite part of the game?
David Ortiz
4 plate appearances
4 strike outs
Game 239 - San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers
August 31 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
Comcast Sports Net
Comcast Sports Net
Game 237 - Lewisberry, Pennsylvania vs. Tokyo, Japan
August 30 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, PA
ESPN
A light day of Baseball Phrases from this one, an 18-11 win for Tokyo in the LLWS championship game.
"backs against the wall"
"off the bat, Dylan knew that he left"
"that's a two-strike approach"
ESPN
A light day of Baseball Phrases from this one, an 18-11 win for Tokyo in the LLWS championship game.
"backs against the wall"
"off the bat, Dylan knew that he left"
"that's a two-strike approach"
Game 235 - Bonita, California vs. Pearland, Texas
August 27 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, PA
ESPN
ESPN
Game 234 - Barquisimeto, Venezuela vs. Tokyo, Japan
August 26 at Howard J. Lamade in Williamsport, PA
ESPN
The return of Karl Ravech!
"Kikuchi, painting"
"Good morning, good afternoon and good night"
"Bundle of energy"
"We got somethin' cookin'!"
"Reach out and touch someone single"
"Yeiner Fernandez also, left the building"
"To overshadow the nob" (?)
"A whale of a baseball game"
"The 3-0 threshold" (?)
* Ravech also said after a second-inning single: "good pinch hit home run single...pinch hit home run single."
That's a finalist! We'll let you know if you're a winner at the end of the season, Karl!
ESPN
The return of Karl Ravech!
"Kikuchi, painting"
"Good morning, good afternoon and good night"
"Bundle of energy"
"We got somethin' cookin'!"
"Reach out and touch someone single"
"Yeiner Fernandez also, left the building"
"To overshadow the nob" (?)
"A whale of a baseball game"
"The 3-0 threshold" (?)
* Ravech also said after a second-inning single: "good pinch hit home run single...pinch hit home run single."
That's a finalist! We'll let you know if you're a winner at the end of the season, Karl!
Game 233 - Houston Astros at New York Yankees
August 26 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
Day game following a night game in which the Yankees lost 15-1 and the HIGHLIGHT was infielder Brendan Ryan pitching two scoreless innings? Sure, it's time for another Mute Mix!
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Brahms Symphony No. 2
Bela Fleck - Daybreak
Dave Matthews Band - Live at Irving Plaza, 7/28/94
Har Mar Superstar - random tracks
Radiohead - The Bends
Miles Davis - Live at Carnegie Hall
Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire
Jelly Roll Morton & James Johnson - Jelly & James
By the way, Wednesday's highlight? Brendan Ryan's two scoreless innings from Tuesday.
YES Network
Day game following a night game in which the Yankees lost 15-1 and the HIGHLIGHT was infielder Brendan Ryan pitching two scoreless innings? Sure, it's time for another Mute Mix!
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Brahms Symphony No. 2
Bela Fleck - Daybreak
Dave Matthews Band - Live at Irving Plaza, 7/28/94
Har Mar Superstar - random tracks
Radiohead - The Bends
Miles Davis - Live at Carnegie Hall
Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire
Jelly Roll Morton & James Johnson - Jelly & James
By the way, Wednesday's highlight? Brendan Ryan's two scoreless innings from Tuesday.
Game 232 - Bonita, California vs. Bowling Green, Kentucky
August 25 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, PA
ESPN
A few Baseball Phrases/Nonsense from this one, an 11-3 win for Bonita.
Karl Ravech
"He went yard on a granny"
"Swinging for the downs"
"Having a convo"
"Two 2-0 titans clashing on the field"
Also heard:
"Student of the game"
"Bringing the gas"
ESPN
A few Baseball Phrases/Nonsense from this one, an 11-3 win for Bonita.
Karl Ravech
"He went yard on a granny"
"Swinging for the downs"
"Having a convo"
"Two 2-0 titans clashing on the field"
Also heard:
"Student of the game"
"Bringing the gas"
Game 230 - St. Louis Cardinals at Arizona Diamondbacks
August 24 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ
ESPN
Baseball phrases, nothing but Baseball phrases! tonight.
ESPN
Baseball phrases, nothing but Baseball phrases! tonight.
Let's take a look at a spectacular night from the ESPN crew:
"he's a heart and soul guy"
"change the culture"
"demanding respect"
"passing of the torch"
"to the tune of a .500 record"
"he finds a way to the grass"
"I'm gonna let the hands do the work"
"a guy who can rake"
"what a savvy at bat"
"taking a middle oppo approach"
"he's a heart and soul guy"
"change the culture"
"demanding respect"
"passing of the torch"
"to the tune of a .500 record"
"he finds a way to the grass"
"I'm gonna let the hands do the work"
"a guy who can rake"
"what a savvy at bat"
"taking a middle oppo approach"
MIDDLE OPPO
"he can have that yes, yes, no mentality"
"good hard 90 out of the box"
"release point"
"answer the bell"
"wiggling out of jams"
"all the wheels are turning here in Arizona"/"trying to keep the wheels churning"
"scoreboard watching"
"those are the things that don't show up in the box score"
"gap shot"
"he can have that yes, yes, no mentality"
"good hard 90 out of the box"
"release point"
"answer the bell"
"wiggling out of jams"
"all the wheels are turning here in Arizona"/"trying to keep the wheels churning"
"scoreboard watching"
"those are the things that don't show up in the box score"
"gap shot"
Game 229 - Houston Astros at New York Yankees
August 24 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
Nathan Eovaldi: 8 IP, 4 H, 7 K
Yankees 1, Astros 0
YES Network
Nathan Eovaldi: 8 IP, 4 H, 7 K
Yankees 1, Astros 0
Game 228 - Taylors, SC vs. Bowling Green, KY
August 24 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, PA
ESPN
Kentucky stayed alive with a 4-3 win in an elimination game, thanks in large part to Eli Burwash. One of the newest members of the Webb Bobo All Stars got Kentucky started with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, then closed out the victory with a scoreless sixth.
Webb Bobos, continued
Maddox Burr - Kentucky 3B
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
South Carolina
Kip Johnson - "Kipper"
Braden Buffington - "Buff"
Bradley Lewis - "B-Rad"
Kentucky
Tayshaun Jones - "Tay"
And let's not forget Karl Ravech
The ESPN "broadcaster" said "Surfin' USA!" and "a little 280-foot yard work", which means he's down 0-2 in the count.
ESPN
Kentucky stayed alive with a 4-3 win in an elimination game, thanks in large part to Eli Burwash. One of the newest members of the Webb Bobo All Stars got Kentucky started with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, then closed out the victory with a scoreless sixth.
Webb Bobos, continued
Maddox Burr - Kentucky 3B
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
South Carolina
Kip Johnson - "Kipper"
Braden Buffington - "Buff"
Bradley Lewis - "B-Rad"
Kentucky
Tayshaun Jones - "Tay"
And let's not forget Karl Ravech
The ESPN "broadcaster" said "Surfin' USA!" and "a little 280-foot yard work", which means he's down 0-2 in the count.
Game 227 - Portland, OR vs. Santiago de los Caballero, Dominican Republic
August 24 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, PA
ESPN
Quite a day for Emmanuel Rodriguez, the center fielder for the Dominican Republic. Rodriguez hit a pair of solo home runs and went 4-for-4 in DR's 7-3 victory in a consolation game. In three tournament games, Rodriguez went 5 for 6 with four walks in 10 plate appearances.
* During the top of the third, commentator Kyle Peterson said "get on board the bacon train", and we obviously can't let him get away with that.
ESPN
Quite a day for Emmanuel Rodriguez, the center fielder for the Dominican Republic. Rodriguez hit a pair of solo home runs and went 4-for-4 in DR's 7-3 victory in a consolation game. In three tournament games, Rodriguez went 5 for 6 with four walks in 10 plate appearances.
* During the top of the third, commentator Kyle Peterson said "get on board the bacon train", and we obviously can't let him get away with that.
Game 225 - Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees
August 23 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
STATS WE DON'T NEED
Take it away, YES:
Brett Gardner
2-for-3 (.667) lifetime
vs. Kyle Crockett
YES Network
STATS WE DON'T NEED
Take it away, YES:
Brett Gardner
2-for-3 (.667) lifetime
vs. Kyle Crockett
Game 224 - Barquisimeto, Venezuela vs. Kampala, Uganda
August 23 at Volunteer Stadium in Williamsport, PA
ESPN
Baseball Phrase of the Season Nominee
Commentator Joe Belisle:
"Special moments, special players"
Thanks, Joe! We'll let you know soon if you've won!
ESPN
Baseball Phrase of the Season Nominee
Commentator Joe Belisle:
"Special moments, special players"
Thanks, Joe! We'll let you know soon if you've won!
Game 223 - Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees
August 22 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
YES Network
Game 222 - White Rock, British Columbia vs. Mexicali Baja California, Mexico
Little League World Series opening round
August 21 at Volunteer Stadium in Williamsport, PA
ESPN
The first little league game of the year here at 300 Game Season and it was an excellent one. Daniel Zaragoza was dominant on the mound, then delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the sixth as Mexico won 1-0.
New Webb Bobo All Star Raul Leon started the sixth with a triple and scored the winning run when Zaragoza slapped a single through the hole between third base and shortstop.
Canada starter Matt Wilkinson was also outstanding, striking out 16 in just five innings.
* Prior to the top of the first, ESPN was going through the Canadian lineup and each player was saying who his favorite MLB player. One player's reply: Justin Smoak.
Justin Smoak?!
Are you his son/his nephew/a member of his boy scout troop?!
I understand Canadian baseball fans cheer for the Bluejays, but JUSTIN SMOAK?
August 21 at Volunteer Stadium in Williamsport, PA
ESPN
The first little league game of the year here at 300 Game Season and it was an excellent one. Daniel Zaragoza was dominant on the mound, then delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the sixth as Mexico won 1-0.
New Webb Bobo All Star Raul Leon started the sixth with a triple and scored the winning run when Zaragoza slapped a single through the hole between third base and shortstop.
Canada starter Matt Wilkinson was also outstanding, striking out 16 in just five innings.
* Prior to the top of the first, ESPN was going through the Canadian lineup and each player was saying who his favorite MLB player. One player's reply: Justin Smoak.
Justin Smoak?!
Are you his son/his nephew/a member of his boy scout troop?!
I understand Canadian baseball fans cheer for the Bluejays, but JUSTIN SMOAK?
Game 221 - Los Angeles Dodgers at Oakland A's
August 19 at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, CA
Comcast Sportsnet
Comcast Sportsnet
Game 220 - Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees
August 19 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
Time for another Mute Mix!
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Shaka Zulu
CSNY - Deja Vu
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Miles Davis - Sorcerer
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Beethoven Symphony No. 6
Chick Corea Akoustic Band - Alive
Fleetwood Mac - Rumors
Aretha Franklin - Greatest Hits
Dave Matthews Band - acoustic show, 5/10/95
The Who - Who's Next
YES Network
Time for another Mute Mix!
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Shaka Zulu
CSNY - Deja Vu
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Miles Davis - Sorcerer
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Beethoven Symphony No. 6
Chick Corea Akoustic Band - Alive
Fleetwood Mac - Rumors
Aretha Franklin - Greatest Hits
Dave Matthews Band - acoustic show, 5/10/95
The Who - Who's Next
Game 219 - Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees
August 18 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
In the third inning, Ken Singleton was talking about how Twins' catcher Kurt Suzuki was born in Hawaii and that when Suzuki took a trip to the island this year he found out (Singleton) "they keep track of all the players born in Hawaii."
(Singleton talking about himself) "I thought that was kind of neat."
The people who live in Hawaii follow the baseball careers of people who were born in Hawaii. Is that neat?
And also
Who is 'they'?
YES Network
In the third inning, Ken Singleton was talking about how Twins' catcher Kurt Suzuki was born in Hawaii and that when Suzuki took a trip to the island this year he found out (Singleton) "they keep track of all the players born in Hawaii."
(Singleton talking about himself) "I thought that was kind of neat."
The people who live in Hawaii follow the baseball careers of people who were born in Hawaii. Is that neat?
And also
Who is 'they'?
Game 217 - Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City Royals
August 16 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO
ESPN
The sound was on, but I really didn't listen much or write anything down during the broadcast. Although I have obtained a transcript of one of the booth conversations:
John Kruk: "If you're a pitcher, sometimes giving up a solo home run is better than allowing a walk."
Curt Schilling: "Krukie!"
ESPN
The sound was on, but I really didn't listen much or write anything down during the broadcast. Although I have obtained a transcript of one of the booth conversations:
John Kruk: "If you're a pitcher, sometimes giving up a solo home run is better than allowing a walk."
Curt Schilling: "Krukie!"
Game 216 - Arizona Diamondbacks at Atlanta Braves
August 16 at Turner Field in Atlanta, GA
Fox Sports South
Went with a silent broadcast and what I like to call the Mute Mix - tracks from a bunch of great albums - for this one, a 2-1 Braves win in 10 innings (Cameron Maybin walk-off hr).
Jimmy Cliff - Give Thanx
Yes - Close to the Edge
The Cars - Heartbeat City
John Coltrane - Blue Train
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Chicago Symphony - Brahms Symphony No. 2
Pearl Jam - Ten
Mott the Hoople - Greatest Hits
The Who - The Who by the Numbers
The Chief - Surround Sounds
Fox Sports South
Went with a silent broadcast and what I like to call the Mute Mix - tracks from a bunch of great albums - for this one, a 2-1 Braves win in 10 innings (Cameron Maybin walk-off hr).
Jimmy Cliff - Give Thanx
Yes - Close to the Edge
The Cars - Heartbeat City
John Coltrane - Blue Train
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Chicago Symphony - Brahms Symphony No. 2
Pearl Jam - Ten
Mott the Hoople - Greatest Hits
The Who - The Who by the Numbers
The Chief - Surround Sounds
Game 215 - New York Yankees at Toronto Bluejays
August 16 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada
Sportsnet
Sportsnet
Games 213 & 214 - New York Yankees at Toronto Bluejays
August 14-15 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada
YES
Carlos Beltran go-ahead, three-run, eighth-inning home run on 8/14, total views (including replays): 40
During 8/15 game: 1
[Last updated 9/23 at approximately 3:15 pm]
YES
Carlos Beltran go-ahead, three-run, eighth-inning home run on 8/14, total views (including replays): 40
During 8/15 game: 1
[Last updated 9/23 at approximately 3:15 pm]
Game 212 - Chicago Cubs at Chicago Whitesox
August 14 at US Cellular Field in Chicago, IL
WGN
My first time this season listening to Ken Harrelson. It's always a pleasure, and by 'pleasure' I mean 'the worst part of my day'.
Harrelson's the ultimate homer. He's such a homer you can sometimes hear him keeping his being a homer in check just slightly, then a few seconds later he goes right back to yelling for a rally to continue.
Some Ken Harrelsons from Friday's game, a 6-5 Cubs win.
"Good guys"
(Cubs hit) "Uh oh"
"Don't stop now boys!"
"And we lead it 2-1"
"Atta boy, Gio!"
"There's a strike, didn't get it"
"That pitch was not a strike, called a strike, full count"
"Alright boys, we got to get some wood work going"
"Ramirez, Sanchez and Soto for us here in our half of the second inning"
"Get in the hole!"
"4-4-0 for them, 2-2-0 for us"
"Come on Adam, pick him up"
"5-7-0 for us, 4-5-0 for them"
"Carlos 2-for-2, picks up our fifth hit"
"And the Sox lead it 5-4, mercy!"
"No activity in our bullpen"
"Atta boy, Tyler"
"We need some runs, boys"
"And you can put it on the board, yes!"
"He gone" (said eight times)
Harrelson also said "you can chuck and duck" and I don't know what that means.
WGN
My first time this season listening to Ken Harrelson. It's always a pleasure, and by 'pleasure' I mean 'the worst part of my day'.
Harrelson's the ultimate homer. He's such a homer you can sometimes hear him keeping his being a homer in check just slightly, then a few seconds later he goes right back to yelling for a rally to continue.
Some Ken Harrelsons from Friday's game, a 6-5 Cubs win.
"Good guys"
(Cubs hit) "Uh oh"
"Don't stop now boys!"
"And we lead it 2-1"
"Atta boy, Gio!"
"There's a strike, didn't get it"
"That pitch was not a strike, called a strike, full count"
"Alright boys, we got to get some wood work going"
"Ramirez, Sanchez and Soto for us here in our half of the second inning"
"Get in the hole!"
"4-4-0 for them, 2-2-0 for us"
"Come on Adam, pick him up"
"5-7-0 for us, 4-5-0 for them"
"Carlos 2-for-2, picks up our fifth hit"
"And the Sox lead it 5-4, mercy!"
"No activity in our bullpen"
"Atta boy, Tyler"
"We need some runs, boys"
"And you can put it on the board, yes!"
"He gone" (said eight times)
Harrelson also said "you can chuck and duck" and I don't know what that means.
Game 211 - Washington Nationals at San Francisco Giants
August 13 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA
NBC Bay Area
Ryan Vogelsong gave a up a home run to Yunel Escobar on the first pitch of the game, but that was it for the Nationals. Vogelsong settled in to pitch five innings and the Giants' bullpen tossed four scoreless, led by a dominant Hunter Strickland (perfect 6th/7th) in a 3-1 victory.
Mike Krukow
We've heard from Krukow before, though Thursday's game he had a couple specific goals. Let's take a look:
1. Mike wants us to know that Stephen Strasburg (6 IP, 2 ER, 8 K) is challenging San Francisco hitters.
"A challenge, get-it-over fastball"
"3-2 challenge fastball"
"A challenge fastball right up above the belt"
"95 mile an hour challenge"
2. He also wants us to know "(Strasburg is) not a bad hitter."
Yes he is, Mike.
He's a pitcher hitting .150/.150/.150 this season and is a .148/.199/.197 career hitter coming into the night. He's the exact definition of a bad hitter.
3. Couple other Krukows:
"He's a little goosey right there"
"Those are macho strike outs"
NBC Bay Area
Ryan Vogelsong gave a up a home run to Yunel Escobar on the first pitch of the game, but that was it for the Nationals. Vogelsong settled in to pitch five innings and the Giants' bullpen tossed four scoreless, led by a dominant Hunter Strickland (perfect 6th/7th) in a 3-1 victory.
Mike Krukow
We've heard from Krukow before, though Thursday's game he had a couple specific goals. Let's take a look:
1. Mike wants us to know that Stephen Strasburg (6 IP, 2 ER, 8 K) is challenging San Francisco hitters.
"A challenge, get-it-over fastball"
"3-2 challenge fastball"
"A challenge fastball right up above the belt"
"95 mile an hour challenge"
2. He also wants us to know "(Strasburg is) not a bad hitter."
Yes he is, Mike.
He's a pitcher hitting .150/.150/.150 this season and is a .148/.199/.197 career hitter coming into the night. He's the exact definition of a bad hitter.
3. Couple other Krukows:
"He's a little goosey right there"
"Those are macho strike outs"
Game 210 - New York Yankees at Cleveland Indians
August 13 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH
Fox Sports Indians
Fox Sports Indians
Game 209 - Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers
August 11 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
Sportsnet
Vin Scully!
Always nice to get a change of pace and listen to an actual baseball announcer. Some things just sound better coming out of Vin Scully's mouth, such as:
"It looked like a high slider, good bye high slider"
"You have a rabbit like Rollins"
"Into the pavilion"
"So Robinson 2 for 3 with the bat, 0 for 1 with the glove"
"RBIs to you and me, bread and butter to Puig"
"And that'll be that"
"From all of us to all of you, good evening everybody"
Some random thoughts and hilarity as well from Vin, who told us home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor has a bachelor's degree in recreation therapy, and said this about Washington's Anthony Rondon:
"His parents said he started hitting rocks and pine cones and he just never stopped."
I think Vin meant Rondon just never stopped HITTING, as in baseballs with an aluminum/wooden bat. But this sounds like Rondon has never stopped hitting rocks and pine cones. That's hilarious to think about if he's doing it, say, in the clubhouse before games.
Sportsnet
Vin Scully!
Always nice to get a change of pace and listen to an actual baseball announcer. Some things just sound better coming out of Vin Scully's mouth, such as:
"It looked like a high slider, good bye high slider"
"You have a rabbit like Rollins"
"Into the pavilion"
"So Robinson 2 for 3 with the bat, 0 for 1 with the glove"
"RBIs to you and me, bread and butter to Puig"
"And that'll be that"
"From all of us to all of you, good evening everybody"
Some random thoughts and hilarity as well from Vin, who told us home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor has a bachelor's degree in recreation therapy, and said this about Washington's Anthony Rondon:
"His parents said he started hitting rocks and pine cones and he just never stopped."
I think Vin meant Rondon just never stopped HITTING, as in baseballs with an aluminum/wooden bat. But this sounds like Rondon has never stopped hitting rocks and pine cones. That's hilarious to think about if he's doing it, say, in the clubhouse before games.
Game 208 - New York Yankees at Cleveland Indians
August 11 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH
Fox Sports Indians
Just a real quick thought from this five-hour pudding fight, which the Indians won in 16 innings.
Cleveland 3B Giovanny Urshela made a nice play on a ground ball by Brett Gardner in the fourth, ranging to his right and jumping to throw out the speedy/once really speedy/am I speedy? Gardner by a step. I don't know the names of the Cleveland announcers, but one of them said this during one of the 11 replays they showed: "that's a very athletic play."
They're all athletic plays.
It's right there in the name: MAJOR LEAGUE Baseball.
If this was 25-over Poughkeepsie Adult League Baseball, then you could blurt that out, sure. Tommy Michonelli and his 33-year old knees making that play is probably an entirely different story.
Fox Sports Indians
Just a real quick thought from this five-hour pudding fight, which the Indians won in 16 innings.
Cleveland 3B Giovanny Urshela made a nice play on a ground ball by Brett Gardner in the fourth, ranging to his right and jumping to throw out the speedy/once really speedy/am I speedy? Gardner by a step. I don't know the names of the Cleveland announcers, but one of them said this during one of the 11 replays they showed: "that's a very athletic play."
They're all athletic plays.
It's right there in the name: MAJOR LEAGUE Baseball.
If this was 25-over Poughkeepsie Adult League Baseball, then you could blurt that out, sure. Tommy Michonelli and his 33-year old knees making that play is probably an entirely different story.
Games 206-207 - Toronto Bluejays at New York Yankees
August 8/9 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
Is six hits, all singles, in 18 offensive innings good?
I feel like that might be pretty darn good.
YES Network
Is six hits, all singles, in 18 offensive innings good?
I feel like that might be pretty darn good.
Game 204 - San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers
August 5 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI
Fox Sports Wisconsin
Fox Sports Wisconsin
Game 203 - Boston Redsox at New York Yankees
August 5 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
Good night for 21-year old Luis Severino, who made his major league debut for the Yankees and pitched five innings of one-earned run ball, striking out seven. Unfortunately, Stephen Wright's knuckle ball was better (8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 9 K) in a 2-1 Boston win.
Yes, Wright throws a knuckle ball. "Knuckle ball", "Knuckle balls", "Knuckler", "Knuckle baller", those four things were said 23 times in Wright's eight half-innings of work, an average of nearly three per inning.
Also: John Flaherty called Mike Napoli getting hit by a pitch in the seventh inning "old school".
Sir, what are you talking about?
Getting hit by pitches is old school?!
"This current generation of players, they don't get hit with pitches like they used to. That's old school!"
And will close this one out by taking a look at some intense cotton candy guzzling (ICCG).
YES Network
Good night for 21-year old Luis Severino, who made his major league debut for the Yankees and pitched five innings of one-earned run ball, striking out seven. Unfortunately, Stephen Wright's knuckle ball was better (8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 9 K) in a 2-1 Boston win.
Yes, Wright throws a knuckle ball. "Knuckle ball", "Knuckle balls", "Knuckler", "Knuckle baller", those four things were said 23 times in Wright's eight half-innings of work, an average of nearly three per inning.
Also: John Flaherty called Mike Napoli getting hit by a pitch in the seventh inning "old school".
Sir, what are you talking about?
Getting hit by pitches is old school?!
"This current generation of players, they don't get hit with pitches like they used to. That's old school!"
And will close this one out by taking a look at some intense cotton candy guzzling (ICCG).
Game 202 - Seattle Mariners at Colorado Rockies
August 5 at Coors Field in Denver, CO
ROOT Sports
The Rockies' scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game against Fernando Rodney, then Michael McKenry hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the 11th off Mayckol Guaipe for a 7-5 win.
It was the second come back for Colorado as right fielder Carlos Gonzalez launched a long, three-run home in the sixth to tie things up at 3-3. Gonzalez's nickname is "CarGo", and how do we know this? Because the Rockies' announcers, Drew Goodman & George Frazier, say it constantly. Let's take a look at Wednesday afternoon's CarGo count.
Total CarGos: 47
[42 in nine innings, 5 in extra innings]
Average CarGos/inning: 4.2
[4.6 average in nine innings]
Number of times said during second-inning at bat: 11
Some CarGos
"CarGo going to cruise into second"
"CarGo hitting .280"
"Bump in the road in the sixth, a three-run home run by CarGo"
"This ball lined toward CarGo"
"CarGo's on deck"/"You have CarGo on deck"/On deck, CarGo" (all said during an eighth inning at bat by Nolan Arenado)
"In the air to CarGo in right, he's got it"
"Not a bad time for CarGo to bunt"
ROOT Sports
The Rockies' scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game against Fernando Rodney, then Michael McKenry hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the 11th off Mayckol Guaipe for a 7-5 win.
It was the second come back for Colorado as right fielder Carlos Gonzalez launched a long, three-run home in the sixth to tie things up at 3-3. Gonzalez's nickname is "CarGo", and how do we know this? Because the Rockies' announcers, Drew Goodman & George Frazier, say it constantly. Let's take a look at Wednesday afternoon's CarGo count.
Total CarGos: 47
[42 in nine innings, 5 in extra innings]
Average CarGos/inning: 4.2
[4.6 average in nine innings]
Number of times said during second-inning at bat: 11
Some CarGos
"CarGo going to cruise into second"
"CarGo hitting .280"
"Bump in the road in the sixth, a three-run home run by CarGo"
"This ball lined toward CarGo"
"CarGo's on deck"/"You have CarGo on deck"/On deck, CarGo" (all said during an eighth inning at bat by Nolan Arenado)
"In the air to CarGo in right, he's got it"
"Not a bad time for CarGo to bunt"
Game 201 - Boston Redsox at New York Yankees
August 4 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
MASN & YES Network
First, I'd like to come clean and say that I originally wrote Boston Tedsox, instead of Boston Redsox, so I'm going to continue to call them the Tedsox. It's only fair to guys named Ted/Red. And it's also great because
1. It isn't the actual name of the team, and it's really funny to mispronounce their name (other good examples include Fredsox, Holesinthesox, Erniesox)
2. Tedsox is actually a better nickname than Redsox
Final score: Yankees 13, Tedsox 3
Alright, let's move on to a segment I like to call DON'T SAY THESE THINGS.
We'll start with MASN for the first three innings, which included color commentator Dennis Eckersley.
"That's decent cheese"
"Gone bridge"
Dennis, don't say these things.
Let's switch over to YES for the final six innings.
Michael Kay, take it far, far away:
"Gives the Yankees a bit of bulge"
"That's a pretty gauky number for the Yankess"
I'm sorry, GAUKY?
MASN & YES Network
First, I'd like to come clean and say that I originally wrote Boston Tedsox, instead of Boston Redsox, so I'm going to continue to call them the Tedsox. It's only fair to guys named Ted/Red. And it's also great because
1. It isn't the actual name of the team, and it's really funny to mispronounce their name (other good examples include Fredsox, Holesinthesox, Erniesox)
2. Tedsox is actually a better nickname than Redsox
Final score: Yankees 13, Tedsox 3
Alright, let's move on to a segment I like to call DON'T SAY THESE THINGS.
We'll start with MASN for the first three innings, which included color commentator Dennis Eckersley.
"That's decent cheese"
"Gone bridge"
Dennis, don't say these things.
Let's switch over to YES for the final six innings.
Michael Kay, take it far, far away:
"Gives the Yankees a bit of bulge"
"That's a pretty gauky number for the Yankess"
I'm sorry, GAUKY?
Games 198-200: New York Yankees at Chicago Whitesox
July 31-August 2, 2015 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, IL
Comcast Sports Net
Baseball Phrases by Michael and Paul O'Neill
Kay
"He was really geeked up"
"A lot of the game is mental, and if the wiring is frayed you could have problems"
"Heat-seeking missile"
"Bases jammed"
O'Neill
"No-win situation"
"Find grass"
"Power pitchers"
Comcast Sports Net
Baseball Phrases by Michael and Paul O'Neill
Kay
"He was really geeked up"
"A lot of the game is mental, and if the wiring is frayed you could have problems"
"Heat-seeking missile"
"Bases jammed"
O'Neill
"No-win situation"
"Find grass"
"Power pitchers"
Game 197 - New York Yankees at Texas Rangers
July 30 at The Stadium The Texas Rangers Play In in Arlington, TX
Fox Sports Southwest
Fox Sports Southwest
Game 196 - Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins
July 30 at Marlins Park in Miami, FL
MASN
Max Scherzer was excellent, tossing seven shut out innings and Ryan Zimmerman launched a lead off, solo home run in a 1-0 Washington victory, but the story any time you listen to a Nationals game on MASN is F.P. Santangelo. And by "story" I mean "the thing you dislike the most."
Santangelo is like something that fell out of Vin Scully's ear.
The worst part about Santangelo, besides the fact that his name is "F.P.", is that he tries to be funny and just isn't.
For instance, after Bryce Harper doubled with two outs in the top of the first, F.P.S. said "there goes the no-hitter."
* He's also about as corny as commentators get, and commentators get really, really corny. Let's check out a young man I like to call Corn.P. Santangelo:
"It's like horseshoes and hand grenades (chuckle)"
(To the kids watching at home): "Get your uni dirty, make your parents wash it."
(On a long foul ball by Harper into the upper deck behind the first base dug out): "If that wall wasn't there, that's all the way back to the hotel."
* F.P.S. loves to use the word crossfire when talking about Scherzer's throwing motion. During a Christian Yelich at bat in the second he said: "he's a crossfire guy," "the crossfire affect," and "uphill crossfire affect."
Total "crossfires" - 5
* And finally, this was said: "I had nightmares of a zombie Kenny G coming to get me with a saxophone last night."
Pardon?
* Play-by-play man Bob Carpenter does not get to skip along to tomorrow's pre-game media meal without discussing his actions Thursday afternoon. First, Carpenter said the following after Zimmerman's HR: "that ball was hangin', and that ball was bangin', and later Bobby added this about Michael Taylor: "Michael's ability to get on base out of the 8-spot in the order will really help the Nats."
Taylor on-base percentage this season: .286.
MASN
Max Scherzer was excellent, tossing seven shut out innings and Ryan Zimmerman launched a lead off, solo home run in a 1-0 Washington victory, but the story any time you listen to a Nationals game on MASN is F.P. Santangelo. And by "story" I mean "the thing you dislike the most."
Santangelo is like something that fell out of Vin Scully's ear.
The worst part about Santangelo, besides the fact that his name is "F.P.", is that he tries to be funny and just isn't.
For instance, after Bryce Harper doubled with two outs in the top of the first, F.P.S. said "there goes the no-hitter."
* He's also about as corny as commentators get, and commentators get really, really corny. Let's check out a young man I like to call Corn.P. Santangelo:
"It's like horseshoes and hand grenades (chuckle)"
(To the kids watching at home): "Get your uni dirty, make your parents wash it."
(On a long foul ball by Harper into the upper deck behind the first base dug out): "If that wall wasn't there, that's all the way back to the hotel."
* F.P.S. loves to use the word crossfire when talking about Scherzer's throwing motion. During a Christian Yelich at bat in the second he said: "he's a crossfire guy," "the crossfire affect," and "uphill crossfire affect."
Total "crossfires" - 5
* And finally, this was said: "I had nightmares of a zombie Kenny G coming to get me with a saxophone last night."
Pardon?
* Play-by-play man Bob Carpenter does not get to skip along to tomorrow's pre-game media meal without discussing his actions Thursday afternoon. First, Carpenter said the following after Zimmerman's HR: "that ball was hangin', and that ball was bangin', and later Bobby added this about Michael Taylor: "Michael's ability to get on base out of the 8-spot in the order will really help the Nats."
Taylor on-base percentage this season: .286.
Game 195 - New York Yankees at Texas Rangers
July 29 at The Stadium The Texas Rangers Play In in Arlington, TX
Fox Sports Southwest
Fox Sports Southwest
Game 194 - New York Yankees at Texas Rangers
July 28 at The Stadium The Texas Rangers Play In in Arlington, TX
Fox Sports 1
The Yankees scored 21 runs and had a number of players with fantastic nights at the plate, but the real story was a guy who was called up from Triple-A just hours before the game began.
Diego Moreno came on in relief of Chris Capuano in the bottom of the first and in his second big league appearance proceeded to throw 5 1/3 no-hit innings in a 21-5 victory. Moreno was outstanding, permitting just a single walk while retiring 16 of the 17 batters he faced. But the reason Moreno entered the game at such an early stage is because Capuano was horrifying (2/3 IP, 5 BB, 5 ER).
I used to like Moreno only for the fact that he was part of the trade that sent A.J. Burnett away from New York forever, but now there's a second thing to like.
Anyway, the Yankees responded to the Rangers' five-run first with an 15-batter, 11-run top of the second and they led for the remainder of the night.
Some big offensive nights for several Yankees:
* Brett Gardner reached base six times, including a two-run home run against position player Adam Rosales in the ninth. Looking forward to Gardner-Rosales II, whenever it happens.
* Chris Young hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs.
* Didi Gregorius had four hits, including a three-run triple in the second & Brendan Ryan added two doubles in one inning and drove in three runs on the night.
* Alex Rodriguez reached base five times, including an RBI-double in that ridiculous second inning.
And completely lost in all the offense was Adam Warren, who tossed three perfect innings to close out the blowout win.
Baseball Phrases!
The broadcast team of Kevin Burkhardt & Tom Verducci had a fine night as well:
"Ground ball specialist:"
"Grand salami"
"Up for a cup of coffee"
"The hit parade continues"
"Nugget"
"Stopper"
"Mound presence"
"Derek Jeter's shadow"
"Glove doctor"
Fox Sports 1
The Yankees scored 21 runs and had a number of players with fantastic nights at the plate, but the real story was a guy who was called up from Triple-A just hours before the game began.
Diego Moreno came on in relief of Chris Capuano in the bottom of the first and in his second big league appearance proceeded to throw 5 1/3 no-hit innings in a 21-5 victory. Moreno was outstanding, permitting just a single walk while retiring 16 of the 17 batters he faced. But the reason Moreno entered the game at such an early stage is because Capuano was horrifying (2/3 IP, 5 BB, 5 ER).
I used to like Moreno only for the fact that he was part of the trade that sent A.J. Burnett away from New York forever, but now there's a second thing to like.
Anyway, the Yankees responded to the Rangers' five-run first with an 15-batter, 11-run top of the second and they led for the remainder of the night.
Some big offensive nights for several Yankees:
* Brett Gardner reached base six times, including a two-run home run against position player Adam Rosales in the ninth. Looking forward to Gardner-Rosales II, whenever it happens.
* Chris Young hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs.
* Didi Gregorius had four hits, including a three-run triple in the second & Brendan Ryan added two doubles in one inning and drove in three runs on the night.
* Alex Rodriguez reached base five times, including an RBI-double in that ridiculous second inning.
And completely lost in all the offense was Adam Warren, who tossed three perfect innings to close out the blowout win.
Baseball Phrases!
The broadcast team of Kevin Burkhardt & Tom Verducci had a fine night as well:
"Ground ball specialist:"
"Grand salami"
"Up for a cup of coffee"
"The hit parade continues"
"Nugget"
"Stopper"
"Mound presence"
"Derek Jeter's shadow"
"Glove doctor"
Game 193 - Milwaukee Brewers at San Francisco Giants
July 27 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA
NBC Bay Area
Mike Krukow Baseball Phrases
"A good sniff of that baseball"
"Defensive pearl"
"Makes the lineup longer"
NBC Bay Area
Mike Krukow Baseball Phrases
"A good sniff of that baseball"
"Defensive pearl"
"Makes the lineup longer"
Game 192 - New York Yankees at Texas Rangers
July 27 at Global Life Park in Arlington in Arlington, TX
Fox Sports Southwest
Let me quickly get one thing out of the way - Global Life Park in Arlington in Arlington, Texas?
No.
I'm not going to call it that. I'm calling the stadium the Rangers play in The Stadium The Texas Rangers Play In (In Arlington).
Couple other thoughts from New York's 6-2 victory:
1. The Texas announcers talked about Robinson Chirinos' four-game hitting streak. There is no such thing as a four-game hitting streak. You just got a hit in four consecutive games; that's one long series, or one three-game series and then you singled in the first game of the next series. I think a player has to get to about eight games before we start talking about "streaks".
2. Yankees' catcher Brian McCann, a former Atlanta Brave, came up to the plate in the sixth and eighth innings and you could hear Braves Tomahawk chants from somewhere in the stands. The last place I expected not only Braves fans, but Brian McCann fans? Arlington, Texas. Second-to-last place? Atlanta.
Fox Sports Southwest
Let me quickly get one thing out of the way - Global Life Park in Arlington in Arlington, Texas?
No.
I'm not going to call it that. I'm calling the stadium the Rangers play in The Stadium The Texas Rangers Play In (In Arlington).
Couple other thoughts from New York's 6-2 victory:
1. The Texas announcers talked about Robinson Chirinos' four-game hitting streak. There is no such thing as a four-game hitting streak. You just got a hit in four consecutive games; that's one long series, or one three-game series and then you singled in the first game of the next series. I think a player has to get to about eight games before we start talking about "streaks".
2. Yankees' catcher Brian McCann, a former Atlanta Brave, came up to the plate in the sixth and eighth innings and you could hear Braves Tomahawk chants from somewhere in the stands. The last place I expected not only Braves fans, but Brian McCann fans? Arlington, Texas. Second-to-last place? Atlanta.
Game 191 - Rockdale Post 77 (GA) vs. Covington Post 32 (GA)
July 26 at Bobby Boss Stadium in Loganville, GA
http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/news/2015/jul/26/rockdale-post-77-wins-state-baseball-championship/?sports
http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/news/2015/jul/26/rockdale-post-77-wins-state-baseball-championship/?sports
Game 190 - New York Yankees at Minnesota Twins
July 25 at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN
YES Network
This was probably my favorite Yankees game of the last three years. Alex Rodriguez homered three times, including the tying solo shot off Glen Perkins in the top of the ninth, and later in the inning backup catcher J.R. Murphy hit an opposite field, three-run home run off Perkins to give the Yankees an 8-5 victory.
Oh, and New York trailed 5-0 early and 5-1 heading into the seventh. And it was Murphy's first home run of the season. What a win.
After seeing it live, I then watched the Murphy home run seven times later in the evening/early morning. I may have danced after a few of the replays. I call it the J.R. Murphy Dance.
I'm going to watch it several dozen more times over what could be several weeks, so let's keep a running count.
Murphy HR - total: 19
Watched live: 1
Replays:
July 25-26: 7
July 27: 4 (afternoon), 3 (evening/pre-game for Monday's game)
July 28: 2 (evening)
August 2: 2 (afternoon)
YES Network
This was probably my favorite Yankees game of the last three years. Alex Rodriguez homered three times, including the tying solo shot off Glen Perkins in the top of the ninth, and later in the inning backup catcher J.R. Murphy hit an opposite field, three-run home run off Perkins to give the Yankees an 8-5 victory.
Oh, and New York trailed 5-0 early and 5-1 heading into the seventh. And it was Murphy's first home run of the season. What a win.
After seeing it live, I then watched the Murphy home run seven times later in the evening/early morning. I may have danced after a few of the replays. I call it the J.R. Murphy Dance.
I'm going to watch it several dozen more times over what could be several weeks, so let's keep a running count.
Murphy HR - total: 19
Watched live: 1
Replays:
July 25-26: 7
July 27: 4 (afternoon), 3 (evening/pre-game for Monday's game)
July 28: 2 (evening)
August 2: 2 (afternoon)
Games 188-189 - Bunting!
July 24
Rockdale Post 77 (GA) vs. Albany Post 30 (GA)
Covington Post 32 (GA) vs. Leesburg Post 182 (GA)
Bobby Boss Stadium in Loganville, GA
Rockdale and Covington, two American Legion teams separated by about 15 miles, each stayed unbeaten in the Georgia state tournament and will meet Saturday in the winner's bracket final. Based on the first two days of this double-elimination tournament, 77 and 32 are clearly the top two teams in the state, and regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game, I fully expect to see a repeat match up for the title a day later.
Of course, the loser will have to win once in the loser's bracket, then beat its area rival twice to win the championship.
Leesburg, which lost 21-10, trailed 11-4 in the bottom of the fifth when Robbie Feagans led off with a single. Carlton Ogletree was then asked to sacrifice Feagans to second, and he was successful. Here are all of my problems with this strategy:
1. Leesburg had 15 outs left and they chose to just give one to Covington.
"Here you go, Covington, take one of our outs, we don't need, want or care about them," said someone.
2. Leesburg trailed 11-4. They were down seven in the fifth inning and PLAYING FOR ONE RUN.
3. If you think Covington is all finished scoring at 11 runs, then playing for one run per inning means you trail 11-9 after nine innings.
4. Games only last nine innings.
5. Covington certainly wasn't finished scoring runs, because they are
- the defending state champions
- very good again this year and scoring a ton of runs (and about ready to add 10 more runs over the next four innings)
Anyway, guess which team didn't score in that inning?
I don't think bunting is a completely terrible strategy, it has its moments, But none of those moments are "down 7 with 15 outs left".
Rockdale Post 77 (GA) vs. Albany Post 30 (GA)
Covington Post 32 (GA) vs. Leesburg Post 182 (GA)
Bobby Boss Stadium in Loganville, GA
Rockdale and Covington, two American Legion teams separated by about 15 miles, each stayed unbeaten in the Georgia state tournament and will meet Saturday in the winner's bracket final. Based on the first two days of this double-elimination tournament, 77 and 32 are clearly the top two teams in the state, and regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game, I fully expect to see a repeat match up for the title a day later.
Of course, the loser will have to win once in the loser's bracket, then beat its area rival twice to win the championship.
Leesburg, which lost 21-10, trailed 11-4 in the bottom of the fifth when Robbie Feagans led off with a single. Carlton Ogletree was then asked to sacrifice Feagans to second, and he was successful. Here are all of my problems with this strategy:
1. Leesburg had 15 outs left and they chose to just give one to Covington.
"Here you go, Covington, take one of our outs, we don't need, want or care about them," said someone.
2. Leesburg trailed 11-4. They were down seven in the fifth inning and PLAYING FOR ONE RUN.
3. If you think Covington is all finished scoring at 11 runs, then playing for one run per inning means you trail 11-9 after nine innings.
4. Games only last nine innings.
5. Covington certainly wasn't finished scoring runs, because they are
- the defending state champions
- very good again this year and scoring a ton of runs (and about ready to add 10 more runs over the next four innings)
Anyway, guess which team didn't score in that inning?
I don't think bunting is a completely terrible strategy, it has its moments, But none of those moments are "down 7 with 15 outs left".
Game 187 - Alpharetta Post 201 (GA) vs. Rockdale Post 77 (GA)
July 23 at Bobby Boss Stadium in Loganville, GA
Games 185-186 - Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
July 21-22 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx,NY
YES Network/ESPN
It has nothing to do with the Yankees-Orioles series, but ESPN commentator Rick Sutcliffe thinks he knows the reason why the Boston Redsox are struggling.
Rick, are you there?
"Two words: John Lackey."
Wow!
I wouldn't listen to Rick Sutcliffe if he told me to get out of the middle of the street because a car was approaching, let alone anything about baseball.
YES Network/ESPN
It has nothing to do with the Yankees-Orioles series, but ESPN commentator Rick Sutcliffe thinks he knows the reason why the Boston Redsox are struggling.
Rick, are you there?
"Two words: John Lackey."
Wow!
I wouldn't listen to Rick Sutcliffe if he told me to get out of the middle of the street because a car was approaching, let alone anything about baseball.
Game 184 - Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves
July 20 at Turner Field in Atlanta, GA
It's extremely hot in Atlanta in the summer. Uncomfortably hot. So when a breeze arrives, even if it's just a small one for a few seconds, you cherish it like you (I) cherished that Don Mattingly rookie card when you (I) were (was) six-years old.
Let's take a look at Monday's breeze count:
1/3 of a breeze - top of the first
1/2 breeze - bottom of the second
short, full breeze - end of the fifth
short, full breeze - top of the sixth
significant, sustained breeze - start of the seventh
Total amount of breeze: 3 3/4.
And finally, let's get a quick shot of Mattingly:
It's extremely hot in Atlanta in the summer. Uncomfortably hot. So when a breeze arrives, even if it's just a small one for a few seconds, you cherish it like you (I) cherished that Don Mattingly rookie card when you (I) were (was) six-years old.
Let's take a look at Monday's breeze count:
1/3 of a breeze - top of the first
1/2 breeze - bottom of the second
short, full breeze - end of the fifth
short, full breeze - top of the sixth
significant, sustained breeze - start of the seventh
Total amount of breeze: 3 3/4.
And finally, let's get a quick shot of Mattingly:
Games 182-183 - Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees
July 17-18 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
"Quickly 0-2 on Chase Headley."
YES Network
"Quickly 0-2 on Chase Headley."
Game 181 - Triple-A All Star Game
International League all stars vs. Pacific Coast League all stars
July 15 at Werner Park in Omaha, NE
MLB Network
July 15 at Werner Park in Omaha, NE
MLB Network
Game 180 - Covington Post 32 (GA) at Rockdale Post 77 (GA)
July 14 at Henson-Carr Legion Field in Conyers, GA
Game 179 - Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Dodgers
July 12 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
Fox Sports Wisconsin
This was a special game for me because I realized Bill Schroeder is a Milwaukee commentator. Seeing Schroeder might not mean much to many people, but it's always special to put a face with the guy you always pinch hit for in RBI Baseball.
Schroeder plays for the American League All Star team and though his numbers are good (.332/.379/.548 for the Brewers in 1987), the AL bench, which includes 49-home run Mark McGwire, is excellent. You have to get someone off that bench and into your lineup, and since you can't make any pre-game changes, Schroeder isn't merely jettisoned to the bench. I'm not sure I've ever given Billy a single at bat. He might be a great hitter, but I don't think we (Bill Schroeder and I) will ever find out.
That's probably the last time I'll ever use the word jettisoned.
Fox Sports Wisconsin
This was a special game for me because I realized Bill Schroeder is a Milwaukee commentator. Seeing Schroeder might not mean much to many people, but it's always special to put a face with the guy you always pinch hit for in RBI Baseball.
Schroeder plays for the American League All Star team and though his numbers are good (.332/.379/.548 for the Brewers in 1987), the AL bench, which includes 49-home run Mark McGwire, is excellent. You have to get someone off that bench and into your lineup, and since you can't make any pre-game changes, Schroeder isn't merely jettisoned to the bench. I'm not sure I've ever given Billy a single at bat. He might be a great hitter, but I don't think we (Bill Schroeder and I) will ever find out.
That's probably the last time I'll ever use the word jettisoned.
Games 177 & 178 - New York Yankees at Boston Redsox
July 11-12 at Fenway Park in Boston, MA
The Yankees-Redsox rivalry can be exhausting - long games, insistence that this single game is the most important game in the history of organized sport, and then tomorrow's will be as well, etc... - for fans. I'm sure the players don't find the games to be any more stressful than the other 140 or so they play. But I sometimes need a break from this rivalry.
Really, it's a half-break because I watch games with the sound off.
For Saturday's game (5-3 Boston win) and Sunday's (Yankees, 8-6) here's what I listened to for the 8 or so hours. Call it the Mute Mix.
Saturday
Beta Band - The Four EPs
Sgt Pepper's
Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds live at Bucknell University, 2/7/99
Billy Joel Greatest Hits, Volume 1
Bela Fleck - Tales From the Acoustic Planet Volume 2
Recently EP - Dave Matthews Band
Four Tops - assorted tracks
Paul Simon - assorted tracks
Sunday
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - assorted tracks
Cult Records sampler
Hello Rockview - Less than Jake
Let's Dance - David Bowie
The Clash - The Clash
Pinkerton - Weezer
Crash - Dave Matthews Band
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
Flecktones - UFO Tofu
The Yankees-Redsox rivalry can be exhausting - long games, insistence that this single game is the most important game in the history of organized sport, and then tomorrow's will be as well, etc... - for fans. I'm sure the players don't find the games to be any more stressful than the other 140 or so they play. But I sometimes need a break from this rivalry.
Really, it's a half-break because I watch games with the sound off.
For Saturday's game (5-3 Boston win) and Sunday's (Yankees, 8-6) here's what I listened to for the 8 or so hours. Call it the Mute Mix.
Saturday
Beta Band - The Four EPs
Sgt Pepper's
Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds live at Bucknell University, 2/7/99
Billy Joel Greatest Hits, Volume 1
Bela Fleck - Tales From the Acoustic Planet Volume 2
Recently EP - Dave Matthews Band
Four Tops - assorted tracks
Paul Simon - assorted tracks
Sunday
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - assorted tracks
Cult Records sampler
Hello Rockview - Less than Jake
Let's Dance - David Bowie
The Clash - The Clash
Pinkerton - Weezer
Crash - Dave Matthews Band
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
Flecktones - UFO Tofu
Game 176 - New York Yankees at Boston Redsox
July 10 at Fenway Park in Boston, MA
MLB Network
Let's just jump right into a few random thoughts from this 5-1 Yankees' win.
1. Boston right fielder Alejandro De Aza should go by Fernando. He looks much more like a Fernando than he does an Alejandro.
Fernando De Aza!
2. The Yankees scored three times in the fourth without hitting anything hard: fielding error, infield single, bases loaded walk. Bob Costas has been announcing baseball games since the 1700s, so clearly he's seen a few crazy things happen. The top of the fourth inning on Friday: not at all crazy. But here's Bobby:
"Nearly unbelievable fourth inning."
Actually, Bob it was very nearly the most believable inning you could possibly witness:
1. Errors by fielders. Happen all the time.
2. Infield single for a speedy player (Brett Gardner). Happens all the time.
3. Walk. Happens all the time.
4. Walk with the bases loaded. Doesn't happen all the time, but it isn't close to unbelievable.
5. Brian McCann not being able to score from third on a ball that bounces off the first baseman (Mike Napoli's) arm. Happens all the time to Brian McCann. Brian McCann is really slow.
Also, John Smoltz called Alex Rodriguez "Mr. A-Rod", so he wasn't going to get away with that.
MLB Network
Let's just jump right into a few random thoughts from this 5-1 Yankees' win.
1. Boston right fielder Alejandro De Aza should go by Fernando. He looks much more like a Fernando than he does an Alejandro.
Fernando De Aza!
2. The Yankees scored three times in the fourth without hitting anything hard: fielding error, infield single, bases loaded walk. Bob Costas has been announcing baseball games since the 1700s, so clearly he's seen a few crazy things happen. The top of the fourth inning on Friday: not at all crazy. But here's Bobby:
"Nearly unbelievable fourth inning."
Actually, Bob it was very nearly the most believable inning you could possibly witness:
1. Errors by fielders. Happen all the time.
2. Infield single for a speedy player (Brett Gardner). Happens all the time.
3. Walk. Happens all the time.
4. Walk with the bases loaded. Doesn't happen all the time, but it isn't close to unbelievable.
5. Brian McCann not being able to score from third on a ball that bounces off the first baseman (Mike Napoli's) arm. Happens all the time to Brian McCann. Brian McCann is really slow.
Also, John Smoltz called Alex Rodriguez "Mr. A-Rod", so he wasn't going to get away with that.
Game 175 - Cincinnati Reds at Miami Marlins
July 9 at Marlins Park in Miami, FL
Fox Sports Florida
Jose Fernandez was quite good, limiting the Reds to six hits (five singles) while striking out nine in a 2-0 victory.
But that's not what I'd like to talk about. Cincy's Todd Frazier struck out swinging in the sixth and Marlins' announcer Rich Waltz said: "down goes...well, Frazier." Then Waltz and commentator Tommy Hutton had a nice old man laugh and we went to commercial.
I'm proposing something radical, but I think it's necessary. All human beings with the last name FRAZIER should be banned from playing sports so we never again have to hear anyone say "down goes Frazier".
Sorry, Todd.
Fox Sports Florida
Jose Fernandez was quite good, limiting the Reds to six hits (five singles) while striking out nine in a 2-0 victory.
But that's not what I'd like to talk about. Cincy's Todd Frazier struck out swinging in the sixth and Marlins' announcer Rich Waltz said: "down goes...well, Frazier." Then Waltz and commentator Tommy Hutton had a nice old man laugh and we went to commercial.
I'm proposing something radical, but I think it's necessary. All human beings with the last name FRAZIER should be banned from playing sports so we never again have to hear anyone say "down goes Frazier".
Sorry, Todd.
Games 173 & 174 - Oakland Athletics at New York Yankees
July 8-9 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
YES Network
Wednesday's game belonged to Mark Teixeira, who ripped a pair of solo home runs (they looked nearly identical in pitch type, location and where the ball landed in the right field seats) and made a number of great plays in the field in the Yankees' 5-4 win.
It also marked the return of Jacoby Ellsbury and Andrew Miller from the disabled list. Those two are extremely important to New York's playoff chances and Ellsbury looked fine playing his first game since May 19 (1-for-4, infield single), while Miller looked rusty. The southpaw gave up a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to Marcus Semien, which turned a 5-2 lead into a one-run game.
Stephen Drew had a nice at bat and launched a solo home run in the eighth. I'm happy he hit it because it turned out to be the winning run, but it also didn't help his chances of being removed from the roster any time soon. Baseball is full of mixed emotions.
The rubber game also went to the Yankees, 6-2. The highlights:
1. Masahiro Tanaka looked destined for a short, horrific outing when he allowed two runs in the second, but the right-hander was dominant the rest of the way. Tanaka went 7 2/3 innings and allowed just two hits (both in that second) and an earned run, retiring 18 of the last 19 batters he faced (Billy Butler struck out in the fourth, but reached on a wild pitch).
2. Brett Gardner not only had three more hits, including a solo home run, but was named to the AL all star team to replace the injured Alex Gordon. It's the first all-star nod in Gardner's eight years as a big leaguer.
3. With Miller and Betances both unavailable, Chasen Shreve and Adam Warren handled the set up/closer duties just fine, combining to get the final four outs to preserve Tanaka's gem.
4. In Ellsbury's second game back, he again looked healthy and his single in the fourth brought home two and turned out to be the winning runs.
Baseball Phrases with Al Leiter
"Show pitch"
"Pulled the string" (said twice)
"Plus-pitch/"plus-stuff"
"He smelled a hit"
"Emergency hack/swing" (3)
"A boatload of scouts"
"Closers: it's a different animal"
"The it-factor"
"Good baseball man"
"Table setters"
"His repertoire is what it is"
YES Network
Wednesday's game belonged to Mark Teixeira, who ripped a pair of solo home runs (they looked nearly identical in pitch type, location and where the ball landed in the right field seats) and made a number of great plays in the field in the Yankees' 5-4 win.
It also marked the return of Jacoby Ellsbury and Andrew Miller from the disabled list. Those two are extremely important to New York's playoff chances and Ellsbury looked fine playing his first game since May 19 (1-for-4, infield single), while Miller looked rusty. The southpaw gave up a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to Marcus Semien, which turned a 5-2 lead into a one-run game.
Stephen Drew had a nice at bat and launched a solo home run in the eighth. I'm happy he hit it because it turned out to be the winning run, but it also didn't help his chances of being removed from the roster any time soon. Baseball is full of mixed emotions.
The rubber game also went to the Yankees, 6-2. The highlights:
1. Masahiro Tanaka looked destined for a short, horrific outing when he allowed two runs in the second, but the right-hander was dominant the rest of the way. Tanaka went 7 2/3 innings and allowed just two hits (both in that second) and an earned run, retiring 18 of the last 19 batters he faced (Billy Butler struck out in the fourth, but reached on a wild pitch).
2. Brett Gardner not only had three more hits, including a solo home run, but was named to the AL all star team to replace the injured Alex Gordon. It's the first all-star nod in Gardner's eight years as a big leaguer.
3. With Miller and Betances both unavailable, Chasen Shreve and Adam Warren handled the set up/closer duties just fine, combining to get the final four outs to preserve Tanaka's gem.
4. In Ellsbury's second game back, he again looked healthy and his single in the fourth brought home two and turned out to be the winning runs.
Baseball Phrases with Al Leiter
"Show pitch"
"Pulled the string" (said twice)
"Plus-pitch/"plus-stuff"
"He smelled a hit"
"Emergency hack/swing" (3)
"A boatload of scouts"
"Closers: it's a different animal"
"The it-factor"
"Good baseball man"
"Table setters"
"His repertoire is what it is"
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