daily-closer Page 2 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Baseball Remembers, Even If The FDNY Lost
We interrupt our ongoing coverage of HGH, cattle steroids, Bud Selig's befuddled countenance, the gyroball, Barry Bonds' expanding head, Roger Clemens' expanding waistline, Craig Biggio's farewell tour, Joba Chamberlain's welcome tour, Boof Bonser, Rally Squirrel, The Big Tilde, Stubby Clapp, Curt S...
Scrape The Brewers Off The Outfield Wall; This Race Is Tied
Call me old fashioned, but I kind of liked it when the teams involved in a tense pennant race were more than three games above .500. It's entirely possible that the Cubs and Brewers could go down to the final day before the NL Central is decided, with both teams sporting a losing record. Wouldn't t...
Shea Stadium Fans Love Them Some Pedro
Who was out at Shea yesterday for the big Pedro Lovefest '07? Faith and Fear in Flushing, for one, which is so giddy over their hero's return that they are declaring September the Mets' Second Spring. Pedro Martinez turned in his second strong outing following his return from the DL, lifting the Met...
It's Almost Like The Cubs Are Jinxed Or Something
After 100 years of futility, there was really no reason for the folks in the Wrigley bleachers to celebrate early. That's just inviting disaster, isn't it? Cubs fans have only themselves to blame for this one. Oh, and Ryan Dempster too, we suppose. Chicago, leading by a game in the NL Central and f...
A-Rod Will Keep Hitting Them Out As Long As You Keep Teeing Them Up
The two-home-runs-in-one-inning phenomenon, usually found only in Little League and the softball game at your company picnic, appeared at Yankee Sradium on Wednesday in the form of a limping, self-satisfied Alex Rodriguez. The two clouts in an eight-run seventh led New York over Seattle 10-2, effect...
NL Central, What Would We Do Without You, You Crazy Nut?
You mocked the National League's Central Division. Called it the race nobody wanted. But now it's September, and it's the most compelling race in baseball, with three teams within a game of each other atop the standings. You've got Carlos Zambrano pouting into his sippy cup. Rick Ankiel not caring ...
This Potential Chicago Riot Brought To You By The Letter Z
And so we witness the brave veneer begin to crack in the Windy City. The Cubs are still in first in the NL Central — shouldn't that be cause for unbridled joy? — but you'd never know it. Carlos Zambrano had a stinky outing on Monday and was treated to a chorus of boos by the Wrigley unfaithful. Zamb...
Let's All Get Baked!
Yeah, the Royals are pretty fucking terrible, but try to not let that diminish your appreciation of Scott Baker's masterful performance. A leadoff walk in the ninth inning spoiled the perfect game before a one-out single to pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney (but I thought Jesus loved no-hitters! Now I don'...
Broom For One More
Sentence from the AP story on Philadelphia's 11-10 win over the Mets on Thursday: Fans chanted "Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!'' as they left the ballpark. One man held a broom he sneaked in. What kind of a world is it where a Philadelphia sports fan has to sneak a broom into Citizen's Bank? After winning fou...
Just When We Think The Yankees Are Out Of It, Someone Pulls Them Back In
Roger Clemens — you may remember him — is back in the news, having been arrested in a Minnesota restroom for soliciting sex from an undercover ... whoa, sorry. Let's back up. I've made a painful error; let's start over. Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) threw six innings of two-hit ball against the Red Sox...
Jumpin' Jacques Flash Has Chicago Glowing
In a world where the Milwaukee Brewers spent 125 days in first place, there was danger in the air for every Cubs fan. But a new wind was about to blow ... . Jacque Jones was once the object of ridicule and scorn at Wrigley Field; Cubs fans going from actively booing him to simply sitting on their ha...
Looks Like We Have Us Another Race, Folks
Well lookee here, the Padres have decided to make this interesting after all. Geoff Blum's two-run homer in the seventh and Jake Peavy's 11-strikeouts led San Diego to a 3-1 win over Arizona, cutting the Diamondbacks' lead in the West to two games. And since the teams play each other six more times ...
Wells Lumbers To Victory In Dodgers Debut
We have just learned what David Wells had been doing between the time the Padres cut him on Augus 6 and he was signed by the Dodgers last week. He was surfing, according to him. Mitch Yost-like, no doubt, shooting the curl at Imperial Beach like a sleek seal. Come on Wells, you never once left The B...
The Immaculate Concepcion
It doesn't appear that Dave Concepcion will make the Hall of Fame. Since his name appeared on the ballot in 1994, his support has ballooned from 6.8% to 13.6%. And he only has a couple of years left. When one looks at his numbers, they don't exactly resemble a Hall of Famer: career .267 batting aver...
Know What They Call A Quarter Pounder With Cheese In Moose Jaw?
If you haven't yet noticed something different this weekend — that CFL mention should have tipped you off — it's that I'm bringing you Deadspin this weekend from the glorious city of St. John's, Newfoundland. This wouldn't be possible if the exchange rate on Deadspin posts wasn't so tempting. But in...
Hey Everyone, Look Who's Back!
Yes, David Wells is now a Dodger. For in-depth analysis of this move, we of course go to Touch 'Em All, Alyssa Milano's comprehensive Dodgers blog. Hmm, nothing. Well, I should have guessed. (Those headbands do look nice, though)....
Those 30-Run Rallies Will Kill You Every Time
Little did you know that when you watched Maracaibo, Venezuela beat the Netherlands, 21-2 in the Little League World Series on Tuesday, that it wouldn't be the most embarrassing wipeout of week. Meet your 2007 Baltimore Orioles, who lost 30-3 to the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. For Texas, it was the...
Now That, Friends, Is A Nice Night
So, you had tickets to the Angels game on Tuesday, but decided instead to go see Daddy Day Care. You foolish, foolish man.* You missed The Garret Anderson Carnival of the Unexplained, as our hero had 10 RBI ... yeah, 10 ... before 44,264 highly-caffeinated Angelistas, as the Angels blasted the Yanke...
Mr. Budde's Wild Ride
Going to Anaheim? Head over to the Angels game; it's a better bet than any of the Disneyland rides. Los Angeles / Anaheim / California is 41-17 at home, the best record in the majors, plus no annoying Alyssa Milano to complain about the starting lineup. Then there's rookie Ryan Budde, whose double i...
Johan Santana Is Mr. August
This will be your one and only Bert Blyleven update for this season, so pay attention. Blyleven, to my knowledge the only Minnesota Twins starting pitcher to have been born in Zeist, Netherlands, struck out 15 Oakland Athletics on Aug. 1, 1986; a Twins record. Or it was, until Johan Santana struck o...