(BOD - Julianne Hough)
Before I dive into the Los Angeles Lakers systematic beatdown of the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals last night, I wanted to make a few more comments on Armando Galarraga’s lost perfect game.
There was a rumour yesterday morning that Bud Selig, having the authority to overturn Jim Joyce’s mistake, would call the 27th batter of the game out and retroactively give Galarraga the 21st perfect game in Major League history.
Not surprisingly, Selig did not make the popular decision (i.e. correct decision). He refused to overturn the call on the field, but did promise to look into expanded replay.
There is a small minority of people who believe Selig made the correct call. Their reasoning is that changing the call on the field would set a dangerous precedent and open the doors for all types of petulant whining about ‘unfair’ decisions made during the heat of the game.
I call supreme bullshit on this logic.
This is a completely extraneous circumstance we are dealing with in this situation. Nothing about Wednesday’s game would have changed if the perfect game remained in tact. The next batter of the inning grounded out. The score would have remained the same, only the box score would have shown one less batter.
It was the last out of the game. There is no precedent set. All Selig had to do is say that this is a one-time decision, a way to make things right for everyone involved. If people started to cry foul because this game was overturned and other instances weren’t, then they are morons to begin with and don’t deserve to espouse an opinion.
Back to the Finals. The Lakers, in front of a silicone-enhanced crowd and the immortal Jack Nicholson, took the Celtics out to the woodshed in a convincing Game 1 victory. Even though I’ve called a Western Conference victory since April, I’m not ready to gloat yet because home court advantage is so big in basketball.
Everyone expected the Lakers to win this game and the next one as well. However, if Los Angeles can waltz into Beantown and steal either Game 3 or 4, then the series will be officially over.
In our last podcast, CSzem and I discussed the historical implications of Kobe winning his fifth title. CSzem mentioned that Bryant lacks a little bit of “Just win, baby!” in favour of chasing his own personal statistics and I think that attitude has defined his career up to last year.
I even wrote the following before the Western Conference Finals:
The juxtaposition between Kobe the teammate and Kobe the lone wolf will be a major story as this series progresses. Will he sacrifice personal stats for the betterment of the team? Last night he scored 40 points, but he only took 23 shots. What happens if his scoring touch is a bit off and he ends up jacking up 30 shots to get his points? The Lakers could be in trouble.
I don’t think he plays like that anymore. Call it trust in his teammates or maturation, but Kobe is playing out of his mind in all facets of the game and at both ends of the floor. He’s making his teammates better. Sure, he still has his diva moments in the regular season, but he goes to another place during the playoffs.
Bryant is acutely aware of his legacy and what a fifth title will mean to his career resume. Not only is Kobe average 30 ho-hum points a night, but he’s doing it within the regular flow of the offence. He’s rebounding and making passes and playing stifling defence when necessary.
LeBron may have won the regular season MVP, but Kobe is running the show in June.
(BOD - Tyra Banks)
Sometimes I really hate being a sports fan.
I don’t even know where to begin on the stories from Wednesday night that left me with a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Let’s start with the Jays debacle from last night. It’s very rare that I hate being right, but I think last night’s game is evidence of the Jays impending freefall. There is no way that giving up 10 runs combined in the last inning of two games won’t rattle a team’s mental state.
They outplayed the Tampa Bay Rays for 25 innings out of 27 and only have a single victory to show for it. Now they have to sit and think about those blown leads while waiting for the big, bad Yankees to stroll into town. Who do they have to play after the Yankees? The Rays for three more.
Toronto could lose eight in a row and I wouldn’t bat an eyelash. That is a terrible feeling as a fan of the team.
Ken Griffey Junior retired yesterday, a shell of his former self. He is really the only power hitter of this era who is beyond reproach when it comes to steroid allegations. It’s sad that Griffey is retiring under such disappointing circumstances. He hasn’t been in the lineup for a week, his average is well below the Mendoza line, and he hasn’t hit a home run yet this season.
Not to mention the weird story that he fell asleep in the clubhouse during a game which was reported by two of his young teammates, but vehemently denied by Griffey and Mariners manager, Don Wakamatsu.
This not the way for one of the greatest players in the game to go out. Hopefully, when the dust has settled, Griffey will be remembered as the fourth greatest home run hitter in major league history, behind Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. Also, we should reminisce on what could have been. Without the injuries that plagued his career, Griffey could have ended up with 800 big flies.
The worst part of my night began with a text message from He Who Hits Bombs. It read: “Watch the highlights from the Detroit game. I can’t wait to hear the rant.”
Intrigued, I immediately wanted to see what he was talking about. Here is the clip.
Umpire Jim Joyce ruined Armando Galarraga’s perfect game bid with two outs in the ninth on a blown call. This situation doesn’t even deserve a rant. I wasn’t mad or angry when I saw the travesty (and there isn’t a better word), instead I was just sad and disappointed.
You can hear it in the announcers’ voices as well. Pure shock and disbelief, mixed with anguish. You can’t even be upset with the umpire. He just flat out blew the call and spoiled Galarraga’s chance at history. I guarantee Jim Joyce has not slept all night.
Look at the batter’s reaction after he’s called safe; hands on his head, looking to the sky. He knew he was out. No one wants to break up a perfect game that way, especially with two outs in the ninth.
Galarraga handled the situation with great poise. Just a bewildered smile playing across his face, he was able to bear down and retire the next hitter on five pitches. I would have lost my frigging mind. Actually, I think I would have gone numb, realizing that my chance at immortality was destroyed by human error.
CSzem and I were talking about where this game ends up historically and he had a number of good points, which I’m sure he’ll address in the comments section.
The only explanation I have for such a travesty is the following: Had the runner been called out, that would have been the third perfect game in less than a month, when only 18 had been pitched in the history of the game.
I sincerely believe that the baseball Gods would not allow another perfect game. It’s a mythical accomplishment that would seem somewhat commonplace had a third one been thrown this season. Need proof of my theory?
Watch the replay again. It appears Jim Joyce’s arms were to going to call the batter out, when they inexplicably shoot out to his sides indicating a safe call. Something made Joyce make that call. It was the baseball Gods trying to maintain the aura of a major league perfect game.
How did my night end? The last thing I remember is that jerk Patrick Kane scoring a beautiful breakaway goal to give the Blackhawks a third period lead. I wanted to grab Kane by the mullet and pile drive his stupid face into the ice.
(Luckily Philly came back to win in overtime: Did you really think Rocky Balboa’s hometown would lie down and die in four straight? Of course not. The Flyers will not lose on home ice.)
(BOD - Caroline Wozniacki)
I knew it. I told myself I wasn’t going to fall for it.
I sat down last night ready to watch my first Blue Jays’ game in weeks (their Western road swing, dumb television shows and life have all impeded my baseball viewing).
I have heard nothing but good things about the team in my absence. They are hitting home runs at a record pace (54 in May!) and their young pitching staff has been dealing all season long. Last night was the second game in a big home stand against the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees.
Much last like year, how they fare against their Al East brethren will be indicative of just how good this team actually is. They won the first game against Tampa on Monday night behind a great effort by Brandon Morrow.
Numerous times throughout the year, I have mentioned that I was nonplussed about the hot start of the Jays. They did the same thing last year, getting my hopes high for a meaningful September only to fall apart once they hit the AL East.
As the game progressed through the early innings, I found myself to be cautiously optimistic. The hitters looked fantastic, the much vaunted offence looked to be for real, and Brian Tallet was putting together a sterling effort on the hill.
Once the hometown squad was up 5-0, I made up my mind to write about the Jays this morning and how they look like a team finally ready to compete for a playoff spot. I even came up with the column title around 8:30pm last night: ‘Could the Jays Be For Real?’
I am such an idiot.
I was doing so well, not buying into the ridiculous hype around this club espoused by guys like Gretzpo. I didn’t want to open my heart up to this team again, only to have it ripped out in grandiose fashion.
I’m like a guy whose girlfriend has cheated on him multiple times. I consistently forgive her, buying lame excuses like “I was drunk”, “It didn’t mean anything”, “He made a convincing argument, and I pretty much had to do him.” I’ve let her walk all over me for so long and every time she lets me down I tell myself I am done with her. But I keep letting her back in my life and she keeps shitting all over me.
This is what it’s like to be a Toronto Blue Jays baseball fan in 2010.
It’s not just that the Jays lost last night’s game, its how they lost. Blowing a 5-0 lead to baseball’s best team. Giving up four runs in a horrid ninth.
Do you know what is most terrifying about last night’s game? Last year the beginning of the end for Toronto’s season took place in Boston. The team was riding high, in first place in their division with a 27-14 record.
They walk into Fenway and get shutout by 75 year old Tim Wakefield. No one gets shutout by Tim Wakefield anymore. The loss sent the Jays into a freefall from which they never recovered.
Back to last night. Blowing a two run lead in the ninth against a team you have thoroughly dominated two nights in a row is the same type of catalyst that could lead to such a swoon.
I want to save the majority of my vitriol for Kevin Gregg. Look, everyone has bad games, I understand that. But his actions after being removed from the game by Cito are evidence of his final appearance as the team closer and guarantee shitty performance after shitty performance from Gregg for the rest of the summer.
There was no need for Gregg to go after the home plate umpire last night. Yes, he may have gotten squeezed on two calls. However, he walked FIVE in the inning and at least one of them was four straight balls. Gregg showed zero command of the strike zone. Why the hell should the umpire give him the benefit of the doubt? I saw at least four pitches that were saved from denting the backstop only by the athleticism of John Buck.
Great pitchers don’t whine to the umpires. They make adjustments. Great pitchers don’t walk five in one inning, blowing a great performance by your team. The honeymoon period with Kevin Gregg is now over. He’s done. Finished.
And I hate to say it, but I think the same goes for the 2010 Toronto Blue Jays. Yes, they will be competitive and hit a lot more bombs, but they will definitely be playing out the string in September.
(BOD - Anna Paquin)
We are back! Fresh from a months-long trashy reality television hiatus, Talkin’ with Tewks is back with blanketed coverage of The Bachelorette. Once again, I am coming from you from Casa di Tewks. Mama and Sister Tewks decided to not take the plunge and have chosen to avoid this season. That’s probably for the best as I would not be held accountable for my actions when they denigrated Ali.
8:01 – There are at least 7 brutal looking guys on this season. Ali is definitely slumming.
8:03 – I’m fairly certain Frank shot his wad when he heard he was getting a one on one date with Ali. How will he be able to last if she actually touches his arm or something?
8:05 – They let Ali drive on this date? Frank should have his mancard revoked. What a terrible precedent for young girls everywhere. Gentlemen, you never let a girl drive on the first date. Bobby Riggs is spinning in his grave right now.
8:06 – And it stalled. What a surprise. A woman can’t drive. SHOCKING TWIST!!
8:10 – Why were they running in the opposite direction of where they were driving?
8:11 – I would have pushed Ali out of the way and hogged the paparazzi for myself.
8:13 – Craig R is jealous of Rated R because Craig looks like Shrek.
8:15 – If I was Frank, I would be leaving copies of my manuscript all over the mansion. “Oh, what’s this?” “This looks like a fun read.”
8:16 – Frank is the first guy she kisses? That’s like eating street meat for dinner when you have a gift certificate to The Keg (who represents The Keg? There’s no way I can make that comparison sound less gay than writing this recap in the first place).
8:23 – I love Craig M. He’s stirring the pot, creating some drama. You can tell he’s a lot of smarter than the rest of these morons, so he’s playing mind games to get them to lose focus. I might add him to Facebook. Maybe we can go to The Brazen Head together.
8:24 – “You have exceeded every expectation I’ve ever had.” – Ali to Frank. Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve heard of setting the bar low, but this is ridiculous. I know Jake was terrible, but my God, Frank looks like the guy you stuff in a locker after gym class.
8:30 – Ali looks AMAZING in that bikini top. So does Craig M’s hair.
8:32 – Sexy guy calendar! I mean, ew, gross.
8:33 – I would have stuffed my banana hammock with three pounds of sand.
8:34 – Jonathan the Weatherman has a small penis, guaranteed. Why else would he be so scared to wear the bathing suit? Methinks the lady doth protest too much (Wait, he even said he wasn’t big down there. Jesus, he must be hung like a light switch).
8:35 – I literally think Craig M and I were separated at birth. The resemblances are uncanny. Our photo shoots would have mirrored each other.
8:36 – Another fucking guitar player? That game is so cliché. Think of another way to impress a woman. That shit makes my blood boil. “Oh, look at me, I’m a tortured musician. I’m so sensitive. I cry myself to sleep at night and then write a song about it.”
8:43 – Did you see Ali’s eyes bug out when Ty said he was married? He’s toast. She hated hearing that.
8:44 – Did the Weatherman really just say he was a brown belt and therefore can kick Craig M’s ass? Wow. Watch out for Bruce Lee.
8:47 – The Weatherman is so scared Craig M is going to beat him up. What a pussy. Grow a sack, dude. “Ali, Craig M was like really mean to me and it hurt my feelings. Can you send him home?”
8:52 – Ty got the rose? I did not see that coming. So, I misread signals and wasn’t able to tell what a woman was thinking: the story of my life.
8:58 – If the date with Jesse was really a fantasy date, as Ali suggested, then it would involve a vat of hot fudge and two deaf, mute Icelandic twins.
9:01 – Why does Ali keep driving on these dates? I understand that it’s 2010, but come on. I mean women are allowed to vote, what else does she want?
9:03 – Just a suggestion, Jesse, but you may not want to suplex the woman you’re trying to sleep with it. In my experience, that does not work. A DDT is much more romantic.
9:10 – Ok, I can’t condone Craig M’s actions with the Weatherman. I would have lost my shit if he took my clothes. Not cool, Craig. You’re lucky you still have great hair.
9:12 – This is where Jesse and I are different. When he and Ali were slow dancing I would have forced her into a Dirty Dancing overhead lift. Then I would have requested Hungry Eyes from the poor man’s Michael Buble.
9:19 – Chris L is my dark horse pick to win. He seems like he’s there for the right reasons. TAKE A SHOT!!
9:21 – Ali LOVES Roberto. She can’t even form coherent sentences when she looks at him.
9:22 – Roberto played college baseball. And he brought his glove? Christ, I would have sex with Roberto at this point.
9:25 – Frank thought Ali was his girlfriend after one date? Why is she not running for the hills? And she’s making out with him again. Frank is terrible. Am I the only one not seeing this? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.
9:31 – “Looks like the forecast is very rosy.” Everything I hate about the Weatherman can be summed up in that sentence.
9:34 – Craig M has no game. This is incredibly disappointing. I take back everything nice thing I said about him. He’s extremely awkward around Ali. This is excruciating to watch. He’s all talk in front of the guys and just retreats into a shell around a woman. What an unbelievable douche.
9:42 – It was great when the Weatherman told Craig M to “grow up. You’re 34.” Then Craig mumbles “I’m not 34.” Two minutes Craig is being interviewed and the banner at the bottom of the screen said he was 34. Just a fantastic sequence. Craig is a complete joke.
9:50 – Who the hell is Steve?
9:52 – The fucking Weatherman got a rose? Craig M rightfully should have been eliminated, but the Weatherman should have followed him out the door. Although, his rose represents hope for guys with small junk everywhere. Somewhere Gretzpo is smiling.
9:53 – Craig M’s egotistical exit interview was much more pathetic when you realize he’s awful around women. It’s like pulling back the curtain and seeing the Wizard is actually a short, fat bald guy. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
9:55 – Man, they are really giving it to the Canadians this season. I need to be on next year to help restore this great nation’s image.
What did you think? Post thoughts to comments.
(BOD - Brooklyn Decker)
No, the column title isn't about me (although I did have an impressive performance last night (6IP, 12Ks, 0 BB), but it's about the masterful perfection that is Roy Halladay.
CSzem and I discuss Doc's perfect game, where he ranks among other 27 up, 27 down performances in Major League history and whether it's gotten 'easy' to throw one in the modern game. Also, our conversation steers towards the NBA Finals and Kobe Bryant and he should end up in the discussion of all time great NBA players.
Talkin' with Tewks Live - Pitcher Perfect
Enjoy.
Posts
