Give The Ball To The Street

By special request, a little Michael McDonald for Mike from Ft. Collins - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G54lfxiid_w

Harold Reynolds knows what I’m talking about. In case anyone disagreed with my statement that Pujols & Holliday are a better 3/4 combo than A-Rod & Texeira, I was watching some posteseason preview on the MLB Network last night and Harold Reyndolds said the same thing, but he also threw in Utley & Howard as another 3/4 combo that they are better than.

On a Rockies related note, Al Leiter seems to think the key for Rox pitchers this series will be getting the top 2 guys out (Rollins & Victorino) to make sure there’s nobody on for Utley/Howard to drive in. The Phillies are going to score runs, their lineup is too potent to keep them off the board completely. The (pitching) key will be limiting the damage when it occurs, and I agree with Leiter on what needs to be done in order to do that.

Scott, the difference between you and Harold Reynolds is that you made your evaluation without getting all grabby.

Is anybody else watching the 1st NLDS game live? So far, I have two big beefs:

1. The umpiring is so terrible, it’s painful. The HP ump is calling a zone that is both low and RIDICULOUSLY wide. And don’t even get me started on that “tag” on Torrealba at 3rd… (Wait! Just saw the 2nd base screw up an obvious pick-off of Cliff Lee. I’m beginning to think the umps are in the tank for Philly…)

2. I know the TBS coverage is supposedly national, but I’m beginning to wonder if all the commentators live in Philly or something. They seem to talk constantly about the Phillies, and they’re doing way more interviews with Phillies coaches. It also feels like they’re not really interested in watching the Rockies play. It’s like the Rockies are “the team to be named later.” Grrrrr…

Not surprised at all about the TBS coverage. I wouldn’t expect any broadcasting crew to not have a bias towards the World Series Champion Phillies when they are playing against those kids from Colorado.

That Yorvit call was terrible. The Lee call was just plain bad. The commentators made sure to point out later on a close play at first that Rollins was safe but was called out, and they seemed to be implying that it evens things out because it cost the Phils a run and ended the inning. There’s a big difference between a close call at first with a 5-0 lead and a more obvious call gone wrong at third when you are trying to silence a hostile crowd and get on the board first. It’s hard enough dealing with the crowd and the wind, we shouldn’t have to deal with the umps too. Forgive me if I seem bitter, but I am.

Hopefully tomorrow is a much better day for the Rox. I’d hate to drive up to Philly with Ted to go to a playoff game that is similar to today’s. But I know our boys won’t let that happen. Aaron Cook to the rescue!

you guys will LOVE this

http://blogs.denverpost.com/rockies/2009/10/07/bears-reveal-how-relaxed-rockies-are-in-hairy-situation/

Al Leiter is right, because Al Leiter is an American Hero. There is perhaps only one Mets pitcher in the past 15 years who was cooler, and that was Turk Wendell, who was just about the coolest pitcher ever, even though he played on the Mets…although according to Wikipedia, his last appearance was with the Rockies, which is both news to me and totally awesome.

That said, Cookie Monster, save us.

PHEW. I swear this team must want to give me ulcers. Looking forward to what Scott and Ted have to say about the game, but for now, I just want to add one thing: get some class, Philly. Cheering when Tulo gets hit? Not cool. Jerk-faces.

That’s more like it. I’m glad we went up for that game and not the first one.

Rox getting it done in the playoffs Broncos undefeated what could be sweeter. Want to do a show here, maybe a NLCS special? http://www.broncoscast.com

Good find on that article, Kylie. I actually shaved my tribute to Spilly’s August BotM on Wednesday morning to start a proper playoff beard. It might be the biggest personal sacrifice I’ve ever made for anything. I’ll post pics of the tribute beard soon so everyone can see why.

As for the classlessness of Philly fans, I too was disgusted when they cheered Tulo getting hit by a pitch. But I thought it was more disgusting immediately after that when they booed him for being looked at by the training staff. These have to be the type of people who tortured animals as kids…right up until they got too fat from cheesesteaks to be able to catch any animals.

I missed the part of the game where Tulo got hit, but I thought I was going to have to go punch my coworker from Philly when I heard those idiots booing Todd Helton, just for coming up to bat. What has Todd Helton ever done to them? I mean if they were booing a prominent player on a division rival, or someone with steroid allegations, but Todd Helton? Really?

In other news, does anyone else keep thinking of the “It’s not your fault” scene in Good Will Hunting, only with Matt Holliday as Matt Damon and Tony LaRussa as Robin Williams?

Cuz, you know, it was the stupid towels.

[...] of the playoff beard seems to be catching on in sports besides hockey. As Kylie pointed out in the blog comments recently, even the Denver Post has noticed the trend in the Rockies’ clubhouse.  I was also [...]

thanks for putting in Street

It didn’t work out, but bringing him in was obviously the right move. Keeping him in to pitch to Ryan Howard was questionable at best.

Ah yes, chucking the metaphorical battery at your opponent when he’s down.

Stay classy, Phillies fans.