Comments on: Settling the Score: Saturday’s results

By: gloccamorra

gloccamorra — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 23:12:24 +0000

How can you do a rundown without mentioning the Padres’ new-found slugger, Alexi Amarista, going deep twice? Did the Angels realize what they were giving up? Also the rookie catcher in that game, Yasmani Grandal, set a major league record by hitting homers for his first two career hits, one from the right side and the other left handed. I know, two teams with the second and third worst records going at it, but sometimes they do notable stuff.

By: stex52

stex52 — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 21:49:31 +0000

We all would like to get together and thank you for reminding us.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 19:56:06 +0000

Any time you refer to someone as a loser, or call someone a 12 year old, you aren’t being “fair and reasonable”.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 18:06:53 +0000

I try, to be fair and resosanble, but some deserve criticism. If you can’t handle that, sorry.

BTW, “12-year olds” is Craig’s term. It’s no criticism at all, just a reference to the efforts at childish humor when Chien-Ming Wang pitched.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:40:29 +0000

schedule is for losers….and the other 12-year olds on this here blog right here

Stay classy

By: cur68

cur68 — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:20:10 +0000

True that. He’s been great as Beaver Wrestler so far. I’m not talking about only at the plate (which, to be honest, is new to him in this uniform) and in center field, but as a coachable athlete. Rasmus’s completely overhauled his swing and approach to the plate: wouldn’t have done that if he had any trouble listening to advice from his coaches. His defence has been pretty spectacular at times, too. Clearly he has a good work ethic on him. Given how poorly he started he could have easily gone into a funk. But, he listened to his coaches and manager, who kept pointing out that he was hitting the ball well with the new approach, but was just damn unlucky to be driving it right at guys. They told him to stick with it and it’ll turn around. To his credit, he listened, worked hard and now look at him: batting over .300 for more than a month now. Day in, day out Gold Glove Center Fielding. I couldn’t be more pleased with him.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:19:08 +0000

Whining about the schedule is for losers. Especially when the losers are rooting for a team in first place.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:15:35 +0000

The Nats were not doomed by Stephen Strasburg’s heat-induced problems (discussed in more detail elsewhere). They were doomed by Chien-Ming Wang coming in and pouring proverbial gasoline on the proverbial fire. Entered the game down 3-2, left the game down 7-2.

This may disappoint Craig and the other 12-year olds on this here blog right here, but it may be time for the Nats to move Chien-Ming Wang off the roster. It’s especially disappointing given the remarkable comeback he made, getting back to the Majors at all. But he’s hurting his team right now and like Brad Lidge, he will never be what he was once upon a time. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s DFA’d when Drew Storen and Henry Rodriguez return.

Another kind word for the Bravos’ young Andrelton Simmons, who had 3 hits. Obviously, his .333 average is unsustainable, but he looks pretty good at shortstop. IMHO, the Braves have found their long-term answer at that position at last, as long as Simmons can maintain decent offensive production.

Gio tries for his 11th win vs. Tim Hudson this afternoon, hopefully under better conditions. In the last series at Turner Field, Gio won 7-2 on May 27; Hudson lost 7-4 on May 25.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:11:18 +0000

The Yanks are 2-2 against the Twins this year, and only 4-3 against the Royals. If you want to complain about scheduling, pick the interleague matchups where the Yanks got: 6 Braves, 6 Mets, 3 Nats, 3 Reds vs the Rangers who got: 6 Hou, 3 SF, 3 Ari, 3 SD and 3 Col.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:27:07 +0000

Rasmus made a terrific catch robbing Pujols of a double. The Jays had a big lead, however he still went full out to make a difficult play.

By: jimbo1949

jimbo1949 — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:14:23 +0000

“Texas is one of those teams in the major sports with the worst streak of all-never having won a World Championship in their team history.”
.
Houston is only 1 year behind them, must be a Lone Star trait. Changing their names didn’t even help.

By: randygnyc

randygnyc — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:14:16 +0000

Kuroda works 8 innings of shutout ball. 11Ks. Yanks end their losing streak after embarrassing themselves against the sub-standard white sox. Can only imagine the Yankees record if they got to play Oakland and Seattle 32 times. Or the twins and KC? Oh that’s right, the Rangers do that. Fabricated mirage.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 14:53:51 +0000

The Iron Giant seems to be back. His first inning railgun shot (“laser” is sooo-o-o nineties) of Hamels was still rising when it hit the wall above the Clevelander, where I would have been floating in the swimming pool if I hadn’t been so lazy and fatalistic (and wedded to the grill – trying out some duck and port wine sausages and a couple of flank steaks marinated in garlic and parsley butter, and preparing a mango-nectarine custard pie). It measured 424 when it struck the immovable object. I figger, though, that what with the endemic corruption in these here parts, Macondo Banana Massacre Stadium is probably constructed with substandard materials and below-code disposition of structural elements, held together by secret payments to offshore accounts held by the county inspectors, and one of these days the Iron Giant is going to hit the right support column in just the right spot and collapse a quarter of the building.

Three in a row, first time since the end of may for the Feesh. I’m not totally convinced yet.

By: cur68

cur68 — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 14:23:54 +0000

Beaver Men Replacement Pitchers were nearly required for Henderson Alvarez’s start. Alvarez, though, had different ideas. He pitched the best game of the original staring rotation, Non-Brandon Morrow Edition, in June. Great to see the kid bounce back like this. And hey! No Tommy John Surgery required, either. Nice change of pace, that.

The Beaver Men hitters showed up again, too, with a pummeling of LAA pitching for 11 runs. Brett Lawrie was in Beast Mode, Yunel Escobar hit a ball further than the middle infield…in fact, lets be fair, he hit a homer and remains one of the most difficult guys in the AL to strike out. The Other Side of the Strike Out Coin, Kelly “Strike Out” Johnson was actually productive at the plate for a change. In case he reads this (and if he doesn’t read HBT, he dang well should) he hit a double, a triple, was walked twice and only struck out a once. Nice work, Mr. Johnson. Whatever you did to prep for that game, KEEP DOING IT. Same for JP Arencebia. He played him some solid D then picked up some lumber and played him some O. He did SO twice but he also walked and took a BB: came in to score both times, too.

Of course E5 & Bautista figured into things: they usually do. What’s also becoming usual is Rasmus getting his licks in, too. Once again, Tony’s lad showed up and was counted to the tune of an RBI double and came across to score. Nice.

Final of the 4 game series today, folks. I think its Aaron “Who???” Laffey vs CJ “The Prankster” Wilson. Sorry for the dithering: can’t be sure about Laffey till the first pitch is thrown, y’see. He could come down with dippydoodleitis or somesuch on the way to the park. Mind you, even if he does make the start, with the way Beaver Men pitching goes, he’ll go 2 innings, give up 2 dozen runs, and be sent off to Dr. Lewis Yokum for UCL Replacement. . . do I sound bitter? Sorry. It’s ’cause I’m bitter.

By: sdelmonte

sdelmonte — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 13:56:45 +0000

I used to play Strat-O-Matic in college. I had a team that shut out six straight games. Hard to believe the Dodgers came close to that.

By: Stiller43

Stiller43 — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 13:27:01 +0000

Lets go buccos.

By: florida76

florida76 — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 13:20:14 +0000

Yes, the Rangers are the two time defending AL champs, and are playing great. But it really doesn’t mean anything unless they can finally win it all, and getting through the AL playoffs is not guaranteed. Texas is one of those teams in the major sports with the worst streak of all-never having won a World Championship in their team history. Think the St. Louis Blues in hockey, Phoenix Suns in hoops, or Cincinnati Bengals in football.

And even if the Rangers survive the AL playoffs, they must find a way to solve the NL pennant winner. For all the talk of AL superiority, they have trouble with the NL when it counts the most in recent years.

By: Tim OShenko

Tim OShenko — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 13:02:59 +0000

The Replacements take both games of a doubleheader, continuing their relentless pursuit of 66 wins. Scott Diamond continues to inspire bad puns with his fine pitching, Plouffe continues to mash the ball, and the bullpen still looks pretty spiffy. This team still has more holes than a lace doily, but one can still find nice things to say about ‘em every once in a while.

Also, the ball seems to be carrying a lot better in Target Field this year. There were five dingers total yesterday, whereas last year it would be unusual to see that many in a week (unless the Jays were in town).