Macho Man Dead: D'Backs

Showing posts with label D'Backs. Show all posts

We're talkin' NY baseball

Yankees Win. The-e-e-e-e-e-e Yankees Win!

OK so it wasn't a huge win, but seeing how Boston and Tampa Bay both lost, it gave the Yankees another day to be alone at the top of the AL Beast.

Andy Pettitte was an absolute monster last night, going seven strong innings while scattering seven hits in the Yanks 9-3 win over Arizona. The ageless one improved to 9-2 on the season and is looking forward to an impending All-Star nod. His ERA dropped to 2.48, he struck out seven batters, and threw 73 of 113 pitches for strikes. Unlike previous nights starter AJ Burnett, Pettitte limited the damage with 2-out - allowing only a fluky 2-run single to P Dan Haren in the second inning. (Haren is hitting .452 this season with 6 RBI.)

The Mets bounced back from their Subway Series loss, pounding out 18 hits in a demolition of the Tigers, 14-6. Both starters were equally terrible - Justin Verlander (2 IP, 5 R) and Jonathan Niese (4.2 IP, 6 R). (Niese, for whatever reason, went back out after a 90 minute rain delay. That's no way to treat a young arm Jerry Manuel.) Verlander's relief was just as bad as he was - Jay Sborz had an MLB-debut to forget - .2 IP, 3 H, 5 R - and left with 67.50 ERA. It'll get better Jay. Angel Pagan was huge for Los Mets (4-6, 3 R, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI) and David Wright had a solid game for the Mets (3-3, 3 R, 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI).

I don't get to watch many Mets games - but from what I remember, they have some lollygaggers. Maybe I just think they loaf around, or maybe it's from my disdain for the way Carlos Beltran plays the game. I am not so sure the Mets miss him - Pagan is hitting .304 with 34 RBI and 41 R to go along with 14 SB. Pretty good production for a guy with a $1,500,000 salary. (Beltran makes $11,000,000 and hasn't stepped on the field.)

Crap, it's late, gotta get ready for work. T$H's new album Weight of the World is awesome. I'll discuss later.

Slim it down

Two pointed topic.

First, I will blabber about my plans to begin a workout regimen, every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. I learned in one of the classes I took in college that goals often times do not come to fruition if you do not write them down - well, here it is. I just typed it down, and that seems to be as close to writing as you're gonna get on a computer. (I wrote down the exercises on a post-it note also.) I just did a little workout at the apartment, but am going to turn it on when I get into work today.

First stop is the weight room to work out. Next stop is Dunkin' Donuts for a large iced with milk and sugar.

Second, can the Yankees close out an inning one time? (Namely A.J. Burnett) Bad AJ showed up last night in the desert, as the D'Backs pounded the Yankees starter to the tune of 7 runs in 4 innings, including three homers in the first. Amazing how a guy with such good stuff can be so inconsistent. Is it a lack of trust?

I digress. The reason for this post was to discuss how closing out an inning will severely slim an ERA and keep your team in the game. The D'Backs scored all 10 of their runs with 2-outs. That is just a lack of focus and a lack of control of the game. Frustrating, especially as a pitching guy.

Here's the shake down:
Bottom 1: F7, 6-3. Two quick outs, no one on base, leads to a 5-run inning. (HR, single, single, HR, HR)
Bottom 2: 3u, 4-3. Two quick outs, no one on base, leads to a 1-run inning. (single, double)
Bottom 4: F7, 4-3. Two quick outs, no one on base, leads to a 1-run inning. (2-out BB, SB, single)
Burnett done. He was done in the first.
Enter Chan Ho Puke.
Bottom 8: single, K, single, K. Two out, two on, leads to a 3-run inning. (HR)

Oddly enough, in the 1st, 2nd, and 8th, Justin Upton was the guy to come up with 2-outs. He did more than enough, going 3-3 with 2 HR, 4 runs, a stolen base, a hit by pitch, and a walk. He had a hand in 8 of their 10 runs. Well done young fella. Maybe the Yankees can figure out this house of horrors and come back to win a series. (they just lost their first game to the Mets and won that series.)

Time to focus up and get ready for work(out). I'm gonna be jacked!

Montana

1964: The territory of Montana was formed. Better known as "Big Sky Country," Montana ranks 44th in state population, with an estimated 967,440 people calling it home. The capital is Helena, with the largest city being Billings.

Montana is home to four minor league baseball teams: Billings Mustangs (Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of Cincinnati Reds); Great Falls Voyagers (Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of Chicago White Sox); Helena Brewers (Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of Milwaukee Brewers); Missoula Osprey (Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of Arizona D'Backs). These four teams make up the North division of the Pioneer League. Because I love logo's, here they are (MiLB):