Continue reading "Goodbye Randy Winn"

Now I assume most of the Boston fans are screaming and their faces are steaming with team colors and pride.  But we have to look at match ups in the remaining schedule.  The Red Sox have a tougher remaining schedule than the Wild Card leader Texas Rangers and the only other team with an outside chance in Tampa Bay, has a tougher remaining season schedule than either and it would be one of the more amazing stretch runs if they make it.  The Red Sox have 20 games left against teams that are trying to make the playoffs, this of course comes with 6 games against all of Boston's beloved Johnny Damon and the New York Yankees, 6 games against newly acquired division rival Tampa Bay, who play tough at home, and 3 games with the Angels.  Out of the 20 playoff type team games left, there are 8 interesting games between the White Sox and Red Sox.  I'm not going to predict any winners from these games {insert 2005 playoff flashback here} but will be some of the most intriguing match ups of the season as Chicago has bolstered their hitting and pitching with the addition of Alexei Rios and SP Jake Peavy.  Peavy has been rumored for a late August return or early September return and could be a factor.  The White Sox are doing everything they can to try to win the Central this season.

Continue reading "Boston Red Sox to MISS Playoffs in 09"

More and more I'm a believer! 22-6 since the All Star break! This Yankee team is beginning to remind me of the '61 Yankees (only without the historic M&M boys' chase of Ruth's record.) EVERYONE on this roster makes a significant contribution at various times. Thursday it was Matsui (2 HRs), last night it was Tex (again). The Yankee lineup surrounds its two power hitters (A-Rod & Tex) with a multitude of players all having "career" years. Jeter, Damon, Cano, Posada, Swisher and Matsui all coming up with doubles, triples and HRs at various times on a daily basis. This was very much like '61 when Johnny Blanchard, Elston Howard, an ageing Yogi Berra and Moose Skowron all hit over 20 HRs and Howard hit .348 IN ADDITION to Mantle and Maris's combined 115 HRs. And, yes, the pitching has jelled beautifully. But without the kind of offense the Yankees are getting THROUGHOUT the lineup now the Ws would simply not stack up as well. 

Continue reading "Yanks Roll On Coast - Beat Mariners in 9th"

A-Rod's been getting a day's rest every week and will continue to do so until the All Star Break. It's been paying off for the Yankees with home runs in Games 1 and 2: 2 days, 2 homers. You go, Alex, rest up that big bad hip! A lot of people will say, "Oh, he's juicing up again." Others will say, "Oh, he's been hanging out with Kate Hudson." I say leave him alone. He's a grown boy. Unfortunately, baseball's steroid policy has become like rules in pro wrestling. It's legal as long as the ref doesn't see it. I guess in baseball terms, it would be that they can take whatever they want as long as they don't test negative. As long as he continues to test negative and keeps hitting home runs, I'm a happy camper.

Continue reading "Mariners-Yankees A Series of Milestones Approached Standards Set"

I got a chance to stream John’s show this past Saturday, and I can honestly say I thought it was very good. My readers know I tell it like it is, so I wouldn’t just say this. Not only was the NFL insight great, but it was very cool to hear John talk about baseball and other sports as well. And not to mention the great music Liz plays coming in and out of the breaks! Overall, the show is very well done, informative, easy to listen to, and fun! Without further ado, here are the questions I had for Liz and her answers:

Continue reading "My interview with 710 ESPN Seattles and The John Clayton Shows producer Liz Mathews"

Continue reading "What does the future hold for the Ms"

Well, that’s baseball for you.  I was actually walking through Boston last night after seeing the National Tour of Spring Awakening (which was amazing, by the way) and caught the score of the Sox game through a restaurant window.  “Oh good!”  I thought.  “We’re up 4-0.”  As it just so happened, I was just in time to see Yuniesky Betancourt hit a two run homer to change the score to 4-2. 

Don’t get me wrong – we won last night.  Great ball game.

Today wasn’t so great.  I got into my car just in time to hear the 9th inning where Green made the error and Franklin Gutierrez hit the walk off single to win it for the M’s.   “Great,” I thought.  “Did anything good happen in this game?” 

Continue reading "Sox Thoughts - Bad Luck on the West Coast"

The Royals are a dangerous team based not only upon the promise of their pitching (will Zack Greinke lose a game this year?) but also upon an underappreciated lineup that is dynamic at the top. Coco Crisp has reverted to his pesky former-self (he leads baseball with 4 triples). Alberto Callaspo, currently hitting a robust .378, follows in the two-hole and, if Jose Guillen, Alex Gordon and Billy Butler can at least hit their weight, Kansas City should challenge Detroit atop the under-appreciated AL Central.

Continue reading "Breaking down your 2009 Red Sox in context"

The one good thing about early voting is that maybe the fans will show some support for Evan Longoria over the injured Alex Rodriguez and vote the reigning Rookie of the Year starting third baseman for the American League.

Longoria is hitting .415 and has already hit five home runs and seven doubles – good for a slugging percentage of .830.

How ‘bout that?

How about the Cleveland Indians?  On Tuesday against the Royals the Tribe infield turned six double-plays.  Still not impressed?  How about when I tell you they did it in SIX CONSECUTIVE INNINGS (3rd-8th)?

Continue reading "All-Star balloting reminds me of the Iowa Caucus"

                 The Mariners opening day, 2009, has many people excited about the possibilities of a first place Mariners team with the return of Ken Griffey Junior. At with 5 wins and 2 losses, the Mariners sit atop the American League West, but they will present quite a headache to the hometown faithful as they open their doors for business.

                Due to some ongoing construction, there will be no access to the Safeco Field parking garage. There will still be access at a great number of parking lots as well as other area parking, such as Qwest Field; but the convenient access of Edgar Martinez Way directly from the freeway to your parking spot, to your seat will not be available. To think that we sat through months of wreckage on and around the former Atlantic Street to make such convenience possible, only to have it fall short of what is needed on the most anticipated opening day in Seattle since at least 2002, if not ever.

Continue reading "Opening Day Headache"