Did anybody (except the unemployed guy) stay up to watch the ESPN/MLB tribute to The Natural last night? I figured it'd be cheesy and unnecessary, just like most of ESPN's non-game programming, but it sucked me in for the duration. Credit a lot of that to how good the film is, but it was also enjoyable to hear the players' comments.
Most interesting tidbits: Jimmy Rollins knowing every single line in the movie, and, almost predictably, what two current MLBers were the geeks who carved "Wonderboy" on their bats? David Eckstein and Eric Byrnes.
It's supposed to get up to 81 degrees down here on the southside today, and the Extra Innings docket is full of openers. Looks like I picked the right week to quit my job and be a bum.
Pavano might be the first opening day starter I can remember being booed out of the stadium:
Devil Rays (Scott Kazmir) at Yankees (Carl Pavano), 1:05 p.m. ET, ESPN The Yankees haven't lost an Opening Day game at Yankee Stadium since 1982 (they've won eight straight home openers) and they will give the ball to Pavano, who has one career win at Yankee Stadium.
You guys can thank Michael Kay for that Elijah Dukes homer. He had just decided to praise Pavano for a fine start, and didn't even get through it before the ball was headed yard-ward. Gotta know the rules of jinxing, Mr. Kay.
A nice salute to Bobby Murcer and his battle with a brain tumor. Man, I hate it when the Yankees and their fans do classy stuff.
And I don't mind McCarver. Yeah, he caters to the know-nothing fan by explaining "nuances" that are actually painfully obvious, but I don't take it as arrogance. he thinks he's doing right by baseball's fringe fans. Meanwhile, Joe Morgan and his "that's just how I feel and no amount of sense of logic can change my mind" stance wins the respect of some and the derision of others. I'm in the latter group.
Scully and Garagiola mid-80's were top dogs. Best of our era. Kubek wasn't bad, and Mel Allen's TWIB was one of the television highlights of my youth. These days my bias and I enjoy the SNY booth a lot, especially Keith. Somehow his arrogance is unquantifiably more palatable than other announcers'.
And in the time I've typed this, the Yanks have surrendered several more runs. Blame Michael kay, I tell you. (I can hear the Bronx spellers now, "F.U., Kay!")
And just as I say that, Joe Morgan appears on my TV to bum me out...
ReplyDeleteCaron Butler's broken hand is a real dagger for the Wiz.
ReplyDeletejoe morgan, one batter into the season's first game, "y'know, i don't care all that much about statistics". ahh, welcome back, baseball.
ReplyDeleteYep, I caught that too...
ReplyDeleteGreat to have Gammons back at full strength.
gammo picking mets over sox in the series. that might make for interesting reading over at mlc.
ReplyDeleteDid anybody (except the unemployed guy) stay up to watch the ESPN/MLB tribute to The Natural last night? I figured it'd be cheesy and unnecessary, just like most of ESPN's non-game programming, but it sucked me in for the duration. Credit a lot of that to how good the film is, but it was also enjoyable to hear the players' comments.
ReplyDeleteMost interesting tidbits: Jimmy Rollins knowing every single line in the movie, and, almost predictably, what two current MLBers were the geeks who carved "Wonderboy" on their bats? David Eckstein and Eric Byrnes.
I watched it, and found it extremely enjoyable as well. You would've thought Jim Thome was a 10 year old at his first game with how excited he was.
ReplyDeletei missed it, but i'm quite certain that espn will replay it 29 times over the next several months.
ReplyDeleteWiz are going out in the 1st round without Butler.
ReplyDeleteToday is such a fantastic day...and it's also the last day the Nats won't be in last place.
ReplyDeleteCarl Pavano, earn some of that $40 mil this year please...
ReplyDeleteIt's supposed to get up to 81 degrees down here on the southside today, and the Extra Innings docket is full of openers. Looks like I picked the right week to quit my job and be a bum.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'll take Tim McCarver over Joe Morgan any day, though I agree with you about Bob Costas.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with you here Whitney. They're both bad, but I'd much rather roll with Morgan than McCarver.
ReplyDeletePavano might be the first opening day starter I can remember being booed out of the stadium:
ReplyDeleteDevil Rays (Scott Kazmir) at Yankees (Carl Pavano), 1:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Yankees haven't lost an Opening Day game at Yankee Stadium since 1982 (they've won eight straight home openers) and they will give the ball to Pavano, who has one career win at Yankee Stadium.
The quest for 100 losses is starting off very well...
ReplyDeleteYou guys can thank Michael Kay for that Elijah Dukes homer. He had just decided to praise Pavano for a fine start, and didn't even get through it before the ball was headed yard-ward. Gotta know the rules of jinxing, Mr. Kay.
ReplyDeleteA nice salute to Bobby Murcer and his battle with a brain tumor. Man, I hate it when the Yankees and their fans do classy stuff.
And I don't mind McCarver. Yeah, he caters to the know-nothing fan by explaining "nuances" that are actually painfully obvious, but I don't take it as arrogance. he thinks he's doing right by baseball's fringe fans. Meanwhile, Joe Morgan and his "that's just how I feel and no amount of sense of logic can change my mind" stance wins the respect of some and the derision of others. I'm in the latter group.
Scully and Garagiola mid-80's were top dogs. Best of our era. Kubek wasn't bad, and Mel Allen's TWIB was one of the television highlights of my youth. These days my bias and I enjoy the SNY booth a lot, especially Keith. Somehow his arrogance is unquantifiably more palatable than other announcers'.
And in the time I've typed this, the Yanks have surrendered several more runs. Blame Michael kay, I tell you. (I can hear the Bronx spellers now, "F.U., Kay!")
F.U. Kay
ReplyDeleteAdam Dunn...two homers off Crazy Carlos Zambrano already.
ReplyDeleteupstairs for the game, banished from the living room because of dancing with the stars - who's with me?
ReplyDeletebuckeyes resplendent in red for the first time in the tourney
ReplyDeletehow is noah already tired? doing blow off the backs of coeds until 4:00 am will do that to you, regardless of how young and in shape you are.
ReplyDeleteor so i hear.
Carl Pavano is who we thought he was.
ReplyDelete