Sunday, April 25, 2004
Baseball Thoughts 4/25
-If you ever need more proof that baseball is an odd game, look at the Astros' past four games: loss-win-win-loss. The two bookend losses featured quality starts from Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller, to the tune of 3ER over 14 IP. By comparison, Brandon Duckworth and Roger Clemens combined for 8 ER in 10 2/3 IP in the two wins.
- I don't want to turn this into a strictly Astros entry (I post enough about them) but I'm watching Baseball Tonight and two things I've seen beg for a comment: a) Karl Ravech continues to say BEE-jee-oh, instead of BID-jee-oh. The guy is 38. He might retire at season's end. Isn't it about time to pronounce his name right? b) John Kruk calls Houston the best base-running team, in the majors. Maybe that's true, but good instincts or not, it's funny to hear that label given to a club with team speed that's on par with your average slow-pitch softball squad.
-With a 12-6 win against Seattle today, Texas stays in a first-place tie with Anaheim. The Rangers are a great early-season story, and even if they don't finish within 10 games of first, that club seems to be putting together a solid nucleus. Alfonso Soriano, Hank Blaylock and Mark Texiera (who's on the DL now) should all find their way on to the All-Star team, if not this year, then not long after. It's too bad for Ranger fans that they play in the AL West, and not the NL West. Might Texas have a chance to compete over a full season? Perhaps, if, as my buddy Porter suggests, the Ewing Effect is at work.
-Staying in the AL West, does Anaheim reliever Ben Webber remind anyone else of Kurt Rambis? Or maybe that kid from Rookie of the Year.
-Boston beats New York... again. The Yanks are slumping (If you're female and 300 pouns-plus: Uncle Derek Needs You!). But come on... this Red Sox jubilation is going too far. The great
Ric Flair liked to say, "to be the man, you gotta beat the man." But April doesn't count. I remember getting ecstatic when the Astros opened 2-0 against Atlanta in 1997. 163 games later, the Braves swept Houston out of the playoffs. Boston can go 17-1 against the "Evil Empire" in the regular season, but until they win in October (and I hope they do) it's meaningless (and yes, I realize that Houston can take that advice, too).
- Richie Sexson has 8 HRs. I'm glad he got out of Milwaukee. For one thing, I'd rather Houston face him six times instead of 18. ANd for another, he's too good a player to waste away in obscurity. Now, if they could ship away Scott Podsednik.
- Podsednik's teammate Ben Sheets came back to Earth today. It's amazing what happens when he doesn't face Houston. I think he's a budding star, but he's going to have to start consistently beating teams not named Houston (compare his 8-2 record on 12 career games against Houston, versus a 37-39 overall mark, in 98 games).
- One more and I'm done with Milwaukee... but what is up with the new Miller Beer ad campaign? The "president" of Beers. I'd rather vote for John Kerry than support that garbage. Well... not really.
- Lankford-Renteria-Rolen-Edmonds-PooHoles... who needs pitching? Just let these guys mash those softballs, and then bring in Jason Isringhausen when you get a lead. Tony LaGenius is in an enviable position. If St. Louis makes the playoffs, he looks like a, well, genius. If they don't, he has the rotation waiting as a built-in excuse.
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- I don't want to turn this into a strictly Astros entry (I post enough about them) but I'm watching Baseball Tonight and two things I've seen beg for a comment: a) Karl Ravech continues to say BEE-jee-oh, instead of BID-jee-oh. The guy is 38. He might retire at season's end. Isn't it about time to pronounce his name right? b) John Kruk calls Houston the best base-running team, in the majors. Maybe that's true, but good instincts or not, it's funny to hear that label given to a club with team speed that's on par with your average slow-pitch softball squad.
-With a 12-6 win against Seattle today, Texas stays in a first-place tie with Anaheim. The Rangers are a great early-season story, and even if they don't finish within 10 games of first, that club seems to be putting together a solid nucleus. Alfonso Soriano, Hank Blaylock and Mark Texiera (who's on the DL now) should all find their way on to the All-Star team, if not this year, then not long after. It's too bad for Ranger fans that they play in the AL West, and not the NL West. Might Texas have a chance to compete over a full season? Perhaps, if, as my buddy Porter suggests, the Ewing Effect is at work.
-Staying in the AL West, does Anaheim reliever Ben Webber remind anyone else of Kurt Rambis? Or maybe that kid from Rookie of the Year.
-Boston beats New York... again. The Yanks are slumping (If you're female and 300 pouns-plus: Uncle Derek Needs You!). But come on... this Red Sox jubilation is going too far. The great
Ric Flair liked to say, "to be the man, you gotta beat the man." But April doesn't count. I remember getting ecstatic when the Astros opened 2-0 against Atlanta in 1997. 163 games later, the Braves swept Houston out of the playoffs. Boston can go 17-1 against the "Evil Empire" in the regular season, but until they win in October (and I hope they do) it's meaningless (and yes, I realize that Houston can take that advice, too).
- Richie Sexson has 8 HRs. I'm glad he got out of Milwaukee. For one thing, I'd rather Houston face him six times instead of 18. ANd for another, he's too good a player to waste away in obscurity. Now, if they could ship away Scott Podsednik.
- Podsednik's teammate Ben Sheets came back to Earth today. It's amazing what happens when he doesn't face Houston. I think he's a budding star, but he's going to have to start consistently beating teams not named Houston (compare his 8-2 record on 12 career games against Houston, versus a 37-39 overall mark, in 98 games).
- One more and I'm done with Milwaukee... but what is up with the new Miller Beer ad campaign? The "president" of Beers. I'd rather vote for John Kerry than support that garbage. Well... not really.
- Lankford-Renteria-Rolen-Edmonds-PooHoles... who needs pitching? Just let these guys mash those softballs, and then bring in Jason Isringhausen when you get a lead. Tony LaGenius is in an enviable position. If St. Louis makes the playoffs, he looks like a, well, genius. If they don't, he has the rotation waiting as a built-in excuse.
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