Obama's first pitch Tuesday night sucked. No two ways about it.
Do you know how you can tell it sucked? Because ESPN has spent the last three days replaying it over and over again, and talking about how great it was. I have seen some first pitches in my life, and that one took the taco for bad first pitches. William Howard Taft, the first president to throw out a pitch, must be rolling over in his grave at the thought of how awful the pitch was.
Let's break it down:
1) The delivery: Awful. Clunky and ungraceful. Obama can speech with the best of 'em. His windup, on the other hand, is awful. And don't give me the excuse of a bulletproof vest. GWB and Reagan threw strikes wearing them, and both of them from the rubber, not the foot of the mound.
2) The result: Albert Pujols sat right on top of the plate. He had to move to keep the ball from bouncing in front of him.
3) Cominsky Field. I can forgive the misproununciation of the name (Comiskey, but southsiders say it like that). It hearkens back to Jeff Gordon's awful "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"...in which he referred to Wrigley Stadium. Say it with me, Dear Leader: Comiskey Park.
4) The "Obama as Regular Joe" story. I hate these. Somehow, being a sports fan is unique? Did no other president like sports? I mean, other than Reagan, Ford, Nixon, Kennedy, Eisenhower (all college football players), GHW Bush (Gold Glove baseball player at Yale), Carter (High school basketball star), and GWB (former baseball owner) there's not a president in recent memory who loved sports like Obama! Spare me. The man's spent some time talking about the BCS! He's just like you and me! Gag.
One more reason to hate the worldwide brainwasher.
Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts
Friday, July 17, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
A Little Something Different on the 4th
Today, 70 years ago, Lou Gehrig gave this speech.
Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career to associate with them for even one day?
Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert - also the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow - to have spent the next nine years with that wonderful little fellow Miller Huggins - then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology - the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy!
Sure, I'm lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift, that's something! When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies, that's something.
When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles against her own daughter, that's something. When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body, it's a blessing! When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed, that's the finest I know.
So I close in saying that I might have had a tough break - but I have an awful lot to live for!
Lou Gehrig - July 4, 1939
Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career to associate with them for even one day?
Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert - also the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow - to have spent the next nine years with that wonderful little fellow Miller Huggins - then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology - the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy!
Sure, I'm lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift, that's something! When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies, that's something.
When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles against her own daughter, that's something. When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body, it's a blessing! When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed, that's the finest I know.
So I close in saying that I might have had a tough break - but I have an awful lot to live for!
Lou Gehrig - July 4, 1939
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
A Hundred Million Dollars
"Geithy, we got a problem," the boss said.
"Sir, I'm aware of that. I've been working diligently toward fixing it. Of course, if I had a little more help..."
"Look, I'm getting to that. These e-mails to Jessica Beil aren't going to write themselves, you know," the boss replied. "There's all kinds of problems, though. Do you know about these Pirates?"
"Yes, sir, I have. Terrible situation, but our Seals sure fixed it, eh? Great call," Geithy retorted, smiling. The boss shook his head.
"They're back! I don't believe it! And do you know they took two out of three from the Braves this weekend! I don't even know what they took, but I won't stand for this! Do they have no decency?"
"Sir, I don't think we're talking about the same pirates. The ones you're talking about are in Pittsburgh..."
"They're in Pittsburgh! Oh my God! What are we gonna do? Pirates and those redneck clingers? This is going to be a disaster of epic proportions!"
"Sir, these Pirates play baseball. Not very well, you know."
"Nationalize the Yankees, then. We'll show them that nobody messes with this country, especially with the national pasttime! What'll that take?" The boss looks angry.
Geithy looks confused. "Sir, it would take...I don't know, a hundred million dollars just to pay Alex Rodriguez' salary. And he's just one..."
"Then you got it, Geithy. We're gonna show them. If it takes a hundred million, it takes a hundred million. Figure it out, huh?"
"Sir, I'm aware of that. I've been working diligently toward fixing it. Of course, if I had a little more help..."
"Look, I'm getting to that. These e-mails to Jessica Beil aren't going to write themselves, you know," the boss replied. "There's all kinds of problems, though. Do you know about these Pirates?"
"Yes, sir, I have. Terrible situation, but our Seals sure fixed it, eh? Great call," Geithy retorted, smiling. The boss shook his head.
"They're back! I don't believe it! And do you know they took two out of three from the Braves this weekend! I don't even know what they took, but I won't stand for this! Do they have no decency?"
"Sir, I don't think we're talking about the same pirates. The ones you're talking about are in Pittsburgh..."
"They're in Pittsburgh! Oh my God! What are we gonna do? Pirates and those redneck clingers? This is going to be a disaster of epic proportions!"
"Sir, these Pirates play baseball. Not very well, you know."
"Nationalize the Yankees, then. We'll show them that nobody messes with this country, especially with the national pasttime! What'll that take?" The boss looks angry.
Geithy looks confused. "Sir, it would take...I don't know, a hundred million dollars just to pay Alex Rodriguez' salary. And he's just one..."
"Then you got it, Geithy. We're gonna show them. If it takes a hundred million, it takes a hundred million. Figure it out, huh?"
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Wonderful
The Braves announcers are openly speculating that the team will be shopping Mark Teixeira if things don't improve and soon. While the possibility exists that he'll be gone at season's end-and it's about as likely as me swearing while I'm golfing tomorrow, knowing the history of the Braves and Scott Boras-there's no point in moving him unless there's a first line pitcher plus a solid position player involved.
And as I'm typing this, Francour just hit into a double play with the bags packed. They're down 5-2 and Campillo has been run after five. Ugh.
And as I'm typing this, Francour just hit into a double play with the bags packed. They're down 5-2 and Campillo has been run after five. Ugh.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Somehow, I Saw This Happening
27 games in, and the Braves are killing me. And by the Braves, I mean the pen.
Chipper Jones is a triple crown threat; Yunel Escobar has lived up to expectations; McCann and Francour have been solid again; Tex is coming around. Mark Kotsay has been a pleasant surprise, and Matt Diaz and Blanco have been good enough in left. Hudson, Smoltz and Glavine have been good when healthy and Jair Jurrjens has proven worthy of the price the Braves paid for him.
And the pen still sucks. Soriano and Moylan out is bad enough. Hopefully Smoltz will help-he's going back to the pen full-time when he gets off the DL. But these guys are killing the Braves right now. The team saves leader has two. Yes, you read that right. Two saves. And last week, they blew a series with the Nats all by themselves.
It's going to be a long, hard slog into third place-and that's if the Marlins don't get there first.
Chipper Jones is a triple crown threat; Yunel Escobar has lived up to expectations; McCann and Francour have been solid again; Tex is coming around. Mark Kotsay has been a pleasant surprise, and Matt Diaz and Blanco have been good enough in left. Hudson, Smoltz and Glavine have been good when healthy and Jair Jurrjens has proven worthy of the price the Braves paid for him.
And the pen still sucks. Soriano and Moylan out is bad enough. Hopefully Smoltz will help-he's going back to the pen full-time when he gets off the DL. But these guys are killing the Braves right now. The team saves leader has two. Yes, you read that right. Two saves. And last week, they blew a series with the Nats all by themselves.
It's going to be a long, hard slog into third place-and that's if the Marlins don't get there first.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Santana to Mets
Run up the white flag, fellow Braves fans. We are doomed to third place again.
Yeah, bringing back Tom Glavine was nice, but he's past 40. And after him, Smoltz, and Hudson is the same uninspring 4-5 that's been known to collapse somewhere in the vicinity of the fifth inning twice a week, and that's assuming that Mike Hampton is actually healthy this year and remembers his way to the mound.
The middle of the order looks strong again, with 3-4-5-6 all capable of 100 RBI seasons, but the top is still young (though good) and the back has a couple of journeyman outfielders. We here at the Spot were none too pleased with the trade of Renteria, who had been the most consistent guy in the lineup the last two years, though we understood the reasons.
And then there's the bullpen, the sore spot that's been dragging the team down for most of the last 15 years and comically so for the last two third-place debacles. Atlanta's bullpen is the Bermuda Triangle of Relief Pitchers: They go in, but they don't come out. No matter who they've brought in (and there have been some good players brought in) they never seem to get the job done. Sadly, last year's pen was comparatively good, but injuries and overuse-thanks to a bad 3-4-5 spot in the rotation-caused them to break down late in the year. When Pete Moylan (who we at the Spot like) is your best reliever, and you happened upon him through the World Baseball Classic, you might have a problem.
Sadly, we here at the Spot miss the days when Ted Turner was spending a boatload of money to bring guys in, and the scouting department was second to none. The front office is to blame for a lot of the results of the past few seasons, as they stood pat while the Phillies and Mets made moves to get better. I understand that AOL Time Warner put them on a strict budget, but I've got two words for the folks that use that as a crutch: Oakland A's. If they had the Atlanta budget...
But I digress. The Metropolitans have put themselves in position to challenge for the NL this year. Yeah, the rotation behind Santana is either aged or young, but they've got 18 games against the Nationals (how I despise that name. Just call 'em the Senators!) and the comically-poor Marlins, not to mention the games where Chuck James or Buddy Carlyle will be pitching for the Bravos (I'm still not counting on Mike Hampton. Sorry). Then there's the Mets lineup, which is pretty good up and down the order.
But I'll be tuned in whenever the Braves are on TV (thanks for ruining things, TBS) and listening on the radio before dark. I just can't quit them, even though the reality of third place has sunk in.
Yeah, bringing back Tom Glavine was nice, but he's past 40. And after him, Smoltz, and Hudson is the same uninspring 4-5 that's been known to collapse somewhere in the vicinity of the fifth inning twice a week, and that's assuming that Mike Hampton is actually healthy this year and remembers his way to the mound.
The middle of the order looks strong again, with 3-4-5-6 all capable of 100 RBI seasons, but the top is still young (though good) and the back has a couple of journeyman outfielders. We here at the Spot were none too pleased with the trade of Renteria, who had been the most consistent guy in the lineup the last two years, though we understood the reasons.
And then there's the bullpen, the sore spot that's been dragging the team down for most of the last 15 years and comically so for the last two third-place debacles. Atlanta's bullpen is the Bermuda Triangle of Relief Pitchers: They go in, but they don't come out. No matter who they've brought in (and there have been some good players brought in) they never seem to get the job done. Sadly, last year's pen was comparatively good, but injuries and overuse-thanks to a bad 3-4-5 spot in the rotation-caused them to break down late in the year. When Pete Moylan (who we at the Spot like) is your best reliever, and you happened upon him through the World Baseball Classic, you might have a problem.
Sadly, we here at the Spot miss the days when Ted Turner was spending a boatload of money to bring guys in, and the scouting department was second to none. The front office is to blame for a lot of the results of the past few seasons, as they stood pat while the Phillies and Mets made moves to get better. I understand that AOL Time Warner put them on a strict budget, but I've got two words for the folks that use that as a crutch: Oakland A's. If they had the Atlanta budget...
But I digress. The Metropolitans have put themselves in position to challenge for the NL this year. Yeah, the rotation behind Santana is either aged or young, but they've got 18 games against the Nationals (how I despise that name. Just call 'em the Senators!) and the comically-poor Marlins, not to mention the games where Chuck James or Buddy Carlyle will be pitching for the Bravos (I'm still not counting on Mike Hampton. Sorry). Then there's the Mets lineup, which is pretty good up and down the order.
But I'll be tuned in whenever the Braves are on TV (thanks for ruining things, TBS) and listening on the radio before dark. I just can't quit them, even though the reality of third place has sunk in.
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