Deadspin
Notes on a day in baseball:
• In The Immortal Words Of Elaine Benes: 'Get Out!' It kind of sucks to be Dan Wheeler right now. The Astros reliever came in and gave up three runs to blow a save on Wednesday, as the Athletics went on to beat Houston 7-3. When Wheeler got back to the dugout after being pulled, starter Chris Sampson — who had pitched well for seven innings — attempted to console him with a pat on the back. But Wheeler shoved Sampson away, screaming at him to go to the other end of the dugout. Wait, wha —? Jason Kendall homered (not a misprint) to lead Oakland. "There's nothing going on," Wheeler said. "I love Chris. It was just frustration on my part. I'm a professional, I should be better than that. I take full responsibility." Such drama for a 27-38 team. And we would so like to see a replay of that moment with Carlos Zambrano playing the Chris Sampson role.
• The Empire Strikes Back. Meanwhile the Yankees won and the Red Sox lost, with New York moving to within 8 1/2 of first-place Boston in the AL East. Hey, we're just sayin'. Alex Rodriguez hit his 25th homer in a 7-2 win over the Diamondbacks, and Mike Mussina got his first win in more than a month. New York has won eight straight and 11 of 13.
• Rocked By Rockies. Brad Hawpe is considering starting his own blog after hitting a three-run homer off of Curt Schilling in the fifth, as Colorado went on to a 12-2 win over the Red Sox.
• Just Let 'Em Fight. Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez and Marlins players Taylor Tankersley and Aaron Boone were all ejected after Tankersley hit the Indians' Grady Sizemore in the back with a two-strike pitch in the sixth. It was one of those deals where both teams had been warned not to hit anyone. We're not sure we like this rule; it seems that baseball is going to great lengths to prevent fights that don't ever amount to any sort of violence anyway. "Stupid, just stupid," as Berman would say. David Dellucci broke a tie with a three-run homer in sixth, leading Cleveland to a 7-3 win.
• Last, But Not Least. Felipe Lopez's bases-loaded triple off Chris Ray in the 11th carried the Nationals over the Orioles 9-6.
Comments
Peavy, filthy again. God I love that hick.
And we would so like to see a replay of that moment with Carlos Zambrano playing the Chris Sampson role.
Dan Wheeler would have no eyes now.
So...apparently whatever Lidge has is contagious. I guess Albert Pujols should be re-classified as a WMD.
White Sox, Pirates, D-Backs...
Not that worried.
Sincerely,
Red Sox Nation
Jack Morris and Smoltz took a picture together before the game.
Hard to believe that was 15 years ago.
let us not forget that my beloved new york mets have suddenly become the major leagues' whipping boys. The Malaisin' Mets (as i like to call them these days) have been depressing me greatly. i need a new hobby. what about that NBA finals thing i've heard so little about??
I understand ejecting Tankersly and Gonzalez, but how did Aaron Boone get dragged into that?
"Last but not least" Really?
That was the least game on the schedule last night.
I would subscribe to a Brad Hawpe blog, if only to figure out how to pronounce his surname.
@Matt_T: Best Game 7 ever. I still remember watching it with my dad, who's been a Braves fan since birth and absolutely HATED the Twins (his affectionate name for Hrbek was "Lard Ass"). But even he gave props to Morris.
and yes, i completely missed this topic being discussed in the last post.
not that worried
I think you're missing the part where you've lost 2 of 3 the last two series head-to-head.
@Phony Gwynn: Speaking of Hrbek, remember when he pulled Ron Gant off the bag at 1st to get an out in that WS? What a douchebag...
@TheMayorOfSabanation: I cannot believe how bitter people still are about that play. Get over it.
@Diddly:
No, I'm not missing that part. I admit, a couple of tough Sox outtings.
But we'll see if Buntin' Bobby Abreu is hitting .488 next month.
No love for Sean Marshall's gem against the Mariners?
It's pretty painful reading the blatant ass-kissing comments comments on Schilling's blog, but then a gem comes along, and it just becomes all worth it.
@Weed Against Speed: Not bitter really...but he is a douche. :)
*minus one "comments"
[threadjack]
Lebron's middle name for his newborn son is....MAXIMUS?
I don't understand the Gladiator obsession between Mamba & Lebron.
[end jack]
@TheMayorOfSabanation: It may have been a douchey play, but Hrbek couldn't be a nicer guy in person. Just a regular old fishing, beer-swilling, good-time guy.
@Get Him A Body Bag, Yeah!: Comininside indeed!
Classic.
Grady was hit? The Ladies... hottie commando squad is mobilizing as we speak.
@Weed Against Speed: Trust me, the Braves fans around the world don't blame Kent Hrbek for losing the '91 WS...more Lonnie Smith and Charlie Leibrandt.
Le sigh.....call me when when Brad Ausmus gets slapped in the mouth
Cue Yankee injuries!
@badbabu: Thankfully, LeBron didn't go with his first choice of first name - Gluteus. LeBron don't know shit about anatomy.
@TheMayorOfSabanation: True enough. Still one of the best World Series.
Man... I so hate it that the Yankees are on a tear. Go [insert team playing Yanks today]?
@Hit Bull Win Steak: What's wrong with Ausmus? He's always seemed like a decent, intelligent guy in what I've read about him.
Such drama for a 27-38 team
Hey, they can't all be 28-34!
This marks Jason Kendall's first home run since wiffle ball.
The nationals still play games? That's nice.
I work up this morning, and thought "It's a new day, and a new opportunity for Elijah Dukes to get in trouble". It's going to be a good day.
@Tuffy: And even then it was a technicality, as it got wedged under the gray Ford Tempo's left rear tire.
@CardinalRedOctober:
And alas...it's someone else's turn:
Univ. of Montana CB Charged With Murder
Note to all fellow Eagles fans, good luck trying to get tickets today @ 10 from Ticketmaster!
@Stev D: The Dude does not abide
/Threadjack
I know this was covered already, but live HD webcast from the US Open, and its not blocked in my office. I think I'm turning my phone off. Maybe it will help take the sting off the Mets play right now.
/end threadjack
@Stev D: But me, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this victory song
'Cause I'm already gone
@Stev D: But what are the people who don't get tickets going to do with all their dead batteries?
@Jerkwheat: I'm trying to think of a witty comeback for you after taking a shot at the Redbirds, but 28-34 is 28-34. All I can really say is well played. Now please tell me what team you root for so I can make fun of them.
Thank you.
@Stev D: Do the Eagles have some ###-ass Chargers rule where those buying tickets have to have a billing address within a certain area?
@Weed Against Speed:
I think only taking the dead batteries is giving them way too much credit.
@Get Him A Body Bag, Yeah!: nothing is wrong with him. I was aluding to when Zambrano slapped his catcher in the dugout after he got torched
@Encouraging Referee Pitman: Touché.
@Doberman On The Diamond: I'm a Tigers freak - so you've already exacted your revenge I assure you.
However, the Astros are team #2 on the list for me so I felt obliged to defend their sorry asses.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO1
Boomer's doing Open coverage.
sad face.
@thesepretzels: You're with me, Open...
"Don't cry, sweetie" (...pats Wheeler on back).
@Sandy Magic Jackson: No they don't but it is next to impossible to actually buy the tickets for face value.
It's sort of become a running joke amongst Eagles fans. All the tickets get snatched up by Razorgater, who happen to be partners with the Philadelphia Eagles, and they sell the same tickets back to the fans for 4X the face value. Sometimes it sucks to be a sports fan.
@thesepretzels: Thank god for the mute button.
@Weed Against Speed: I cannot believe how bitter CARDINAL fans still are about that play in 1985.
/better
@Stev D:
Dude, I'm sorry to hear that some other franchise pulls the same douchebag move. That's bush league.
/cubs fan