Dead Goats and Week 2 K.E.P.

October 24, 2016

RALEIGH — On Saturday a goat died. This particular goat had prevented the Cubs from winning a Pennant for 70+ years.

I watched the entire game because it is baseball, it is October baseball, and it was certain to be history in the making one way or another. It was a good game. Hendricks pitched beautifully. The Cubs faced the minimum due to timely double plays. I would have loved to have seen a closer score, but it was a good game nonetheless.

You had to know this wasn’t going to go the Dodgers way. The third pitch by Kershaw took a fortuitous hop and landed in the bleachers for a lead off ground rule double. Then two batters later, a run is in and a fly ball lands in the Dodger left fielder’s glove only to jump back out and play in the grass. So, a funny bounce and an error on a routine fly ball and the Dodgers are down 2 before getting an out. Continue reading “Dead Goats and Week 2 K.E.P.”

The Matt Kemp 2017 Exercise Program

October 14, 2016

Matt KempRALEIGH — The Dodgers advanced to the NLCS last night. It was quite the game five. I am not a Dodger fan, nor am I a Nationals fan. But I do appreciate good baseball.

Watching the game was a blast. And, I’ll admit, I was a bit torn. On the one hand I have a fellow Dirtbag on the verge of going to the NLCS in Danny Espinosa. On the other hand I have the opportunity to watch Bryce Harper not go to the NLCS. And, yes, all my LA friends would rejoice in a Dodger win. It is always good to see friends happy. Continue reading “The Matt Kemp 2017 Exercise Program”

Help Wanted: Second Base, Atlanta Braves

October 11, 2010

ATLANTA – Having never seen Joe Biden in person, I can say with confidence that what I saw last night at Turner Field was the worst display of human ineptitude I have ever personally witnessed.  Brooks Conrad, second baseman for the Atlanta Braves, single-handedly lost the game for Atlanta.  He committed three errors in the game, two of which led to runs for the Giants.  The Braves lost the game 3-2 and now are down 2 games to 1 in the best of 5 series.  We need help at second base.  Anybody but Brooks Conrad would be preferred. Continue reading “Help Wanted: Second Base, Atlanta Braves”

Joey Votto and Albert Pujols: The Race for the Triple Crown

August 23, 2010

ATLANTA— Is anyone watching the batting leaders in the National League?  Joey Votto of the Cincinatti Reds is leading the league in hitting at .323 and is third in homers at 29 and second in RBI’s at 86.  Meanwhile, Albert Pujols (the greatest player of our generation) is second in hitting at .319 and first in homers (33) and RBI’s (92).  Either one of these two players, with a strong September, could overtake the other in the remaining categories and capture a triple crown.  There have only been 14 triple crown winners in modern major league history and no one has won the award in the National League since Joe Medwick in 1937. The last winner in baseball was Carl Yastrzemski of the American League in 1968.   With so many good division races going on around baseball and with these two heavy-weights going head-to-head in the N.L. Central, September is setting up to be a very exciting month!

Jason Heyward: SUPER STAR!

April 17, 2010

 

That is one large individual,” Ryan Howard, first baseman of the Philadelphia Phillies, describing his first meeting with Jason Heyward. (Sports Illustrated, April 19, 2010).

ATLANTA – Just got finished reading the piece in the latest Sports Illustrated about Jason Heyward of the Braves.  It’s a great piece, if you can pick up the mag and read it.  Through the Braves’ first ten games, Heyward is already the team’s most productive hitter, with a .316 batting average, 3 home runs, 12 RBI’s, and a 1.041 OPS.  Not bad for a 20 year-old rookie!   Continue reading “Jason Heyward: SUPER STAR!”

OPENING DAY: 2010 Baseball Season

April 4, 2010

RALEIGH— The 2010 baseball season is upon us. At last. Spring training is wonderful but it is no substitute for the real games.

Below are my predictions for the season. I’m basing this on six weeks of Spring Training research and analysis. Grueling late nights crunching numbers. Back ground checks on all new rookies. Team chemistry. Complex mathematical algorithms. A crystal ball. The magic 8 ball. And the rule of starting pitching. Continue reading “OPENING DAY: 2010 Baseball Season”