Hideki II?

Hideki Matsui, the star centerfielder for the Japanese champion Yomiuri Giants, has announced his decision to test the free agent waters in the U.S. Some sources already have him headed to the Yankees. There is further speculation that the Yomiuri media conglomerate, the owners of the Giants, will buy the Japanese rights to broadcast Yankee games in order to air his games in Japan.

Matsui would be unlike any Japanese player to come to America. He hits for power and average. He came close to a triple crown this year. He is left-handed and would fit in nicely with Yankee Stadium's short right-field porch. Bernie Williams and his aching arms would move to left, with some sort of combination of Juan Rivera, Raul Mondesi, Rondell White, and Shane Spencer (all right-handed batters) handling the right field and DH duties. He could fail like no other Japanese player before, too.

However, with the Yankees suddenly fiscally austere--trade talks of Posada, rumors that Pettite's $11.5 M option will not be picked up, and Roger Clemens declining his option for 2003--is this the time to mention a Japanese player with the first name Hideki to The Boss?

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Billetes! Billetes! Who Needs Billetes?

MLB is pimping the Expos in San Juan to the tune of $300,000 a game. Bud Selig is honing his used car saleman chops with offers like "$5.4 million for 18 games and $6 million for 20 games" plus a set of Ginsu knives. But wait! There's more! For callers in the next 10 minutes we'll throw in the Chop-O-Matic. It chops, it lops, it dices, it even juliennes. Act now!

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You Can't Spell Egomanic without G and M

Cal Ripken has expressed his desire to become a GM, preferably with the Orioles. Current Oriole GM Syd Thrift's contract is up at the end of the year. Ripken expressed the interest to Peter Angelos, the owner--how serendipitous!

Ripken believing that all of swelling in his head caused by the press that he has received of late for having his streak named the Most Observable Occasion (or was it Most Discernible Deed? Salient Situation?) is actually an infusion of GM smarts (like those guys in the commercial who can play music like Kiss because they stayed at a Ramada--Confidentially, we can all play music as well as Kiss). He now believes that he can assume a role for which he has never trained nor even shown any inclination.

Ripken explains the involved thought process:

I don't want to manage right now, and coaching doesn't appeal to me. But if there was a job that I could shape a baseball organization or help shape a baseball organization, I certainly would look at that.

"Uh, either that or run the scoreboard to shape a baseball organization or help shape a baseball organization or supervise the baseball organizing shape thereof. That would be awesome." (disclaimer: these words were not actually uttered by Ripken. I just happened to receive them via my extra sensory power and felt compelled to report upon them.) It reminds me of the eposide of Seinfeld in which George is fired and he and Jerry are going through the want ads to find him a new job. Realizing that he has no discernible skills and no driving amibtion, George proposes that he become the GM of the Yankees since he likes baseball. (Funnily enough, years later George is poised to become just that when he screws up the deal with one of his machinations.) Of course, George didn't have the massive public persona, or ego, to help him fulfill his dream that Super Cal does.

I shouldn't be too hard on Cal. Ripken was gracious with his acceptance speech, er, offer:

The Orioles are my first choice. ... Before I looked at options elsewhere, I'd like to know whether that opportunity would be available to me here.

"Uh, Thanks, Cal, but we already have a GM: Sid Thryft. Would you look to manage in the minors, coach a bit at the major-league level, or how about serve as assistant GM to see if you have any talent in that area?"

Upon, hearing the counterproposal, Ripken packed up Camden Yards and with a "No, it's mine and you can't play with it" he was gone.

---

Russell Phils Pirates Coach Opening, Set to Replace McClendon in 2004

John Russell will join the Pirates staff as hitting coach after leading the Edmonton Trappers to the PCL title in 2002. He becomes the second former Phil to join ther staff since the end of the season. The other is former utility man and 2003 bench coach, Pete Mackanin.

Russell played 10 years with the Phils, Braves, and Rangers. The highlight of his career was catching Nolan Ryan's 6th no-hitter June 11, 1990. He also homered in the game. In 1986, he served as the right-handed two-thirds of the Phillies catching platoon, the otherthird being filled by then slowly developing rookie and lefty bat, Dutch Daulton. For the most part he served as a backup catcher for the rest of his career.

That is precisely the reason that McClendon should have done everything possible to keep Russell off his staff. Everyone knows that backup catchers have the fast track to managing. Ask McClendon himself. Odds are that Russell takes the Pirates' helm about this time next year.

---

Meares Mortal

Shortstop-turned-second-baseman Pat Meares has agreed to drop his grievance against the Pirates. Meares had been kept on the disabled list for the entire 2002 season even though Meares contended that his injured left hand was healed and he was ready to play. He demanded his release so that he could sign with another team. Perhaps Meares' agent pointed out that he has approximately $4 M left on his contract before slapping him on the head and shouting, "Moron!"

Apparently, Meares will serve out the remaining year of his 4-year contract extension on the disabled list. Meares in accepting this agreement is in essence retiring since he will be 35 at the end of the contract and after not playing for most of 3 years will not be the most attractive free agent in the 2003-04 marketplace.

Meares represents the worst of the Pirates' Cam Bonifray years. Not many remember that the ever-average Meares actually took a salary cut in signing a one-year deal with the Pirates in 1999. He had made $2.5 M with the Twins in 1998, up from $245 K in 1996 and $1.425 M in 1997 thanks to arbitration. However, when the Twins started to pare down the team salary prior to 1999 Meares was cut loose. The Twins feared arbitration would continue to escalate his salary. The Twins were vilified in the press and by fans for doing so, but given his fungible mediocrity and the price tag accorded sustained mediocity by the arbitration system, who could blame them? Certainly, no one is questioning the decision now.

When then Pirates' GM Bonifray signed Meares to a $1.5 M, one-year deal just before the start of Spring Training in 1999, it seemed like a wise bargain. Then the Pirtates mistakenly repaid Meares for taking the salary cut by guaranteeing him in April of 1999 a 4-year, $15 M extension. The extension did not take effect until 2000. Meares responded by playing only 21 games due to the injury to his hand and the subsequent surgery to repair it. He started at short in 2000 and then switched to second in 2001, all the while getting plenty of ABs and showing very little resemblance to a major-league player at the plate (His 2001 adjusted OPS was only 41% of the average major leaguer).

In May of this year, Meares, who started the year on the DL, claimed that he was ready to play and was as healthy as when he played last year. The Pirates responded that that's what they were afraid of, and asked him to have further surgery to strengthen his hand so that he could better grip the bat (he was getting hammered on the inside pitch). It is in the Pirates best interest for Meares to stay on the DL so that they can recoup their losses via disability insurance. No mention was made of the additional hush funds directed Meares' way.

But it's deserved since all rehab and no play makes Pat a dull boy. Dull he has not been as this citation from BaseballLibrtary.com will attest:

June 26th, 1999: Shortstop Pat Meares of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on the disabled list recovering from surgery on his left hand, participates in a sausage race at Milwaukee's County Stadium. Meares, dressed as a 10-foot bratwurst, wins the race defeating a giant hot dog and a polish sausage. Two days ago, Meares was caught on videotape sunbathing in the upper deck of Philadelphia's Veteran Stadium for the first six innings of game.

---

Robbing Posada to Pay Bud

The Yankees are reportedly preparing to shop All-Star catcher Jorge Posada due to concerns related to the penalties imposed upon the team as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

To keep the same $135-million team salary that the Yankees maintained this season, they would owe "$8 million to $9 million next season in payroll taxes, plus a possible $15 million payout in revenue sharing."

Of all the long-term contracts that the Yankees' players have signed, Posada's is the only one without a no-trade clause. In one of the oddest mixed metaphors you'll ever hear-how often are Don Corleone and Jesus Christ alluded to in one statement?-GM Brian Cashman said, "I'm certainly open to listening, but if someone wants to inquire about him, they'd better come with frankincense and myrrh and make me an offer I can't refuse."

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The Budding Rose Above The Rose Full Blown

John Perricone at Only Baseball Matters is running a series on the Pete Rose situation.

John has asked me to contribute as well. First, Morgan. Now, Rose. Soon I may tick off the entire Big Red Machine (if they knew I existed). I hope John knows what he's in for.

The quote's Wordsworth, by the way.

---

G'Joe Morgan Chat Day, Bruce

Today we, the Mike's Baseball Rants' Players, present for your entertainment the classic Monty Python Bruces/Philosophy sketch intertwined with the Joe Morgan Chat Day review (all of Joe's lines are from the chat session). But now for something completely different: Joe Morgan is our favorite analyst because he can say the most "Stone Me!" shaggedelic, ace, right as rain rhetoric and then-Bob's Your Uncle-the soddingest, "Blimey O'Reilly!"-est, bollocksed-up, bleedingest load of cobblers. So let's have a butchers at this week's, his last for the year. Cheers!

[Scene: Office setting with a conference table and a side table in the back with sign "Philosophy Dept." above a stack of unopened Fosters beer cans. First and Third Bruce are playing cards. Second Bruce enters stage right. Walks to table. Pulls out a seat. Finds a dead parrot seated there. Picks up the parrot with a surprised expression and then tosses it aside absentmindedly.]

Second Bruce: G'day Bruce!

First Bruce: Oh, Hello Bruce!

Third Bruce: How are you, Bruce?

First Bruce: A bit crook Bruce.

Second Bruce: Where's Bruce?

First Bruce: He's not 'ere, Bruce.

Third Bruce: Blimey, it's hot in here Bruce.

First Bruce: Hot enough to boil a monkey's bum!

Second Bruce: That's a strange expression, Bruce.

First Bruce: Well Bruce, I heard the Prime Minister use it. "It's hot enough to boil a monkey's bum in here, your Majesty," he said and she smiled quietly to herself.

Third Bruce: She's a good Sheila Bruce, and not at all stuck up.

Second Bruce: Here! Here's the boss-fellow now! How are you Bruce?

[Fourth Bruce enters, accompanied by Joe Morgan.]

Fourth Bruce: 'Ow are you, Bruce?

First Bruce: G'day Bruce!

Fourth Bruce: Bruce!

Second Bruce: Hello, Bruce.

Fourth Bruce: Bruce.

Third Bruce: How are you, Bruce?

Fourth Bruce: G'day Bruce.

[To All] Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce the man from pommyland who is joinin' us this year in the philosophy department at the university of Walamaloo.

All Bruces: G'day!

Joe Morgan: Hello everyone...let's go!!!

Fourth Bruce: Joe Morgan, Bruce. Joe Morgan, Bruce. Joe Morgan, Bruce.

First Bruce: Is your name not Bruce?

Joe Morgan: It's just a shame. I don't know how you can change it though. There is no way you can control it really. . Trying to change people into what we want them to be, it's just not up to us. That is just the way I understand it.

Second Bruce: That's going to cause a little confusion.

Third Bruce: Mind if we call you "Bruce" to keep it clear?

Joe Morgan: It has always been the custom that if you are on the staff of a winning organization that is where you go first. If Dusty goes to the Cubs, it's possible ..

Fourth Bruce: [quizzical sideways look towards Bruce Morgan] Gentlemen, I think we better start the faculty meeting. Before we start, though, I'd like to ask the padre for a prayer.

First Bruce: Oh Lord, we beseech Thee, Amen!!

All Bruces and Bruce Morgan: Amen!

Bruce Morgan: He won't put up with any nonsense like the marijuana smoking. I'm sure his friends and family think he is a nice person and I am one of those people. Seems like he would make a good manager.

Fourth Bruce: Crack tubers! [Sounds of cans opening.]

Now I call upon Bruce to officially welcome Mr. Morgan to the philosophy faculty.

Second Bruce: I'd like to welcome the pommy bastard to God's own Earth, and remind him that we don't like stuck-up sticky-beaks here.

The Other Bruces: Hear, hear! Well spoken Bruce.

Bruce Morgan: Thank you .. my offseason has already been great.. I hit golf balls all day yesterday and I'm playing again today!

Fourth Bruce: [with confused expression] Bruce here teaches classical philosophy, Bruce there teaches Hegelian philosophy, and Bruce here teaches logical positivism, and is also in charge of the sheep dip.

Third Bruce: What's new-Bruce going to teach?

Fourth Bruce: New Bruce will be teaching political science, Machiavelli, Bentham, Locke, Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Bradman, Lindwall, Miller, Hassett and Benet.

Second Bruce: Those are all cricketers!

Fourth Bruce: Aww, spit!

Bruce Morgan: If you are on the staff of a winning organization that is where you go first. If you can cut your weaknesses, you will be right there with them. The smart teams tried to follow that blueprint. More valuable than any player they could have acquired. As for the rumors, I don't think it is going to happen.

Third Bruce: Hails of derisive laughter, Bruce!

All Bruces: Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia, we love you amen.

Bruce Morgan: Probably won't be in Vancouver anytime soon!

Fourth Bruce: Another tube!

[Sound of cans being opened.]

Any questions?

Bruce Morgan: Hello everyone.. this will be my last chat of the season .. let's go!!!

Bloody Brilliant

Auggie: Bruce, can you give us some insight on why Willie Randolph has not been hired by one of the dozen teams he has interviewed with over the years?

Bruce Morgan: Seems like he would make a good manager. It has always been the custom that if you are on the staff of a winning organization that is where you go first, except in the case of minorities.

[Bruce (call me Bruce today): Very diplomatic, Bruce. Auggie, how's you're Doggie Daddy?]

Eric, NYC: Bobby Valentine's name hasn't come up much where managing vacancies are concerned. Do you think someone will hire him during the offseason?

Bruce Morgan: He will get another chance I'm sure.. he has managed Texas and New York so I'm sure he will get another chance somewhere.

[Bruce: Maybe he should go back to Japan again. Dumb-o Arrogant-o, Mr. Bobby-oto.]

Joe Trapani: Bruce, who do you see replacing Joe Torre as the manager of the yankees when Torre decides to hang it up?

Bruce Morgan: I think he will continue to manage as long as it is still fun. A lot will depend on this season. He will tell us how long he will manage I think after this next season. I'm not really sure who would succeed him.

[Bruce: Joe, how's your brother Kevin? Right you are Bruce-how fun is it to be the manager of a team that can get you talent quicker than you can Bud can impose a fine. It's like APBA with real guys.]

Betsy: Why cannot Bonds be more of a good Role Model? Is that not part of the multi million dollar deal that super star athletes sign for?

Bruce Morgan: Everybody's personality is what it is. Trying to change people into what we want them to be, it's just not up to us. We shouldn't be trying to fit people to make them fit what we think a nice person is. I'm sure his friends and family think he is a nice person and I am one of those people.

Bruce Morgan: Most of the images you have of Bonds come from sportswriters views of him. I'm sure you haven't met him personally, you are just going by what you read or saw on TV. They tried to blame the Game 6 ball on him and that he botched the play. They tried to blame him because he doesn't talk after the game.

[Bruce: Thanks, Bruce. I don't think there is anything about making Betsy like him in Bonds' contract.]

Greg Roberts,Fort Worth: Is Scott Boras bad for baseball?

Bruce Morgan: All I know is at one time agents were a neccessity but aren't as much now because players know what other players make. Before you didn't know that. But I can't say he is bad for the game, I don't know him.

[Bruce: Yeah, define bad. The people he represents seem happy. Actually, Marvin Miller recommended early on to free agents that they use a lawyer instead. They're cheaper and do the same job.]

Bugger all

Mike from Albany: What do you think Art Howe can bring to the Mets ball club, and do you think the Mets can make the playoffs?

Bruce Morgan: I don't know how they will do next season but Howe will bring some stability. The players will understand where he is coming from and he won't put up with any nonsense like the marijuana smoking. That is nonsense.

[Bruce: Mike? I don't trust that name. Oh, Bruce, what's Howe's stance on sniffing glue? And how do you feel that stance enhances the Mets' playoff chances next year?]

Darius(Mpls): Bruce, I am wondering if you think the Devil Rays paid too much in giving up Randy Winn for Lou Piniella? Lou wasn't going to manage for Seattle this year anyways and I think there were alot of other qualified candidates who would have cost them nothing

Bruce Morgan: Well, if you are finshing last with the record they had, how can it get any worse. It can only get better.

Bruce Morgan: Lou is more valuable than any player they could have acquired ..

[Bruce: Good point! Trade the whole team away and Piniella and his superior managerial skills can manage an APBA team. Is a manager, even a good one, really more important than a decent player? I doubt it.]

Vancouver: Mr. Morgan, You and Sanberg are my Idols! I played second base for the portland beavers. I have Sanberg's autograph! Now I need yours.. When are you going to be up in Vancouver, WA!?! Cary D. Anderson

Bruce Morgan: Probably won't be in Vancouver anytime soon!

[Bruce: Vancouver likes Bruce! They really like Bruce! Thanks, Bruce! You've been studying at the Elaine Bennis school of excessive punctuation, haven't you!?!]

Tyler (Milledgeville): What are the Braves going to do this offseason? With all the great young pitchers they have, could they trade for some one like Carlos Pena who wouldn't hurt their pockets and still give them a big bat at first?

Bruce Morgan: I'm a big Pena fan. But I don't see how Detroit could trade him. He is going to be a future star in this league. The Braves need some more offense but that has been the case for a long time. They have ridden their pitchers to all their success. They got some offense with Sheffield but they need another left handed bat in that lineup.

[Bruce: Why an unproven player then? Why not a known entity who bats left-handed and is a free agent, say, perhaps, Jim Thome?]

Norton: Hey Bruce, is the Yankees run over?

Bruce Morgan: Unless they can come up with better starting pitching, they are going to have a problem. But I think they will get what they need and be prepared for next season. So I guess my answer is no.

[Bruce: Hey, Norton! My Yankees runneth over? The Yankee starters had a 3.97 ERA in 2002. The AL champ Angels? 4.00. Plus the Yankees got more innings out of their starters. Actually that was the problem: their older starters were worn out covering for the decimated relief corps all year and showed it by October.]

Greg Roberts,Fort Worth: Bruce , I am a 40 something white guy and i would like to know if the Texas Rangers will win a world Seris in my lifetime.

Bruce Morgan: I don't how long you are going to live! I don't think the Rangers are as far away as you might think. The Rangers just aren't that far away.. they need a couple pitchers and a solid leadoff guy. I actually thought they would do better this year than they did.

[Bruce: You're a white, middle-aged Texas Rangers fan? Shocking! Bruce, give it to him straight. They need a bit more than "a couple pitchers and a solid leadoff guy." They need at least 3-4 starting pitchers with Rogers likely gone as a free agent. They need to rebuild their bullpen around surprising closer Francisco Cordero. They will soon need to replace Pudge or get up the jack to keep him, which still means replacing him in the lineup 50-80 games a year. They need to see if Hank Blalock is for real. They need a leadoff hitter? Their leadoff man had a .308 OBP this year. That's poor for a gut at the tail end of your lineup. They also need to switch to the AL Central. The West has three tough teams.]

jalal leach: Bruce, have a great off-season. sorry I couldn't catch up with you before I left for venezuela winter ball. maybe in the future?

Bruce Morgan: Thank you .. my offseason has already been great.. I hit golf balls all day yesterday and I'm playing again today!

[Bruce: What is this the Mutual Admiration Society? Get back to baseball.]

Rob (NYC): What did you think of the kiddie corps in the Giants dugout during the playoffs?

Bruce Morgan: I don't like kids in the dugout .. baseball is a dangerous sport. Anyplace on the field there is danger. Sitting in the dugout is dangerous. I have seen line drives go just over their head. They don't pay attention like the players do. I think it is hard for the players to concentrate when they are worried about the kids. I also wouldn't want my kids hearing the language you hear in the dugout. The Angels didn't have that .. they were there to play baseball. My wife used to want to go with me on the road but I didn't want to worry about her getting hurt. I would say, if I worked in a coal mine, would you still want to go? That ended that conversation.

[Bruce: You're right. There should be no kids in the stands even. Wait, no kids should even hear mention of the word "Baseball." And you can't have your pudding if you don't eat your meat. You know I would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for those meddling kids and their dog. By the by, is coal-mining a spectator sport?]

Mary Jo Nelum, Chesapeake, VA: But sitting in the stands watching your loved one play a game that they love to play is different from watching him lug coal out of a mine, wouldn't you like to reconsider having family with you on the road? I think it's important-sometimes for a player's family to be there.

Bruce Morgan: We always want our families around but not in harm's way. That takes away from your concentration. Your family should be there as long as the environment is safe.

[Bruce: Mary Bruce, don't try to confuse the issue with logic.]

Shawn, Nova Scotia: Being a Red Sox fan - do you see the chance that they are going to make a big move like trading away Pedro, Manny or Nomar?? Also, what are you thoughts on the rumors of the Expos going to Boston?

Bruce Morgan: I don't think they will make any big moves.. they just need a consistent 1B.

As for the rumors, I don't think it is going to happen. That is just the way I understand it. I think the Expos will play some games in Puerto Rico.

[Bruce: Bruce Morgan is a Red Sox fan? I didn't know that. Oh, gerund trouble, that's what it was. Miss Foley, my 10th-grade English teacher, is wrinkling up her nose right now.

The Sox need a bit more than that. They need to re-sign Bud's trade deadline present, Cliff Floyd. They need an honest-to-god major-league second baseman (thanks to Dan Duquette's releasing David Eckstein a couple of years ago), a deeper bullpen, a lineup that doesn't fade in the second half (thanks, Scotty Coo...I mean, Shea Hillebrand), and a consistent pitching rotation (just live with Wakefield in the rotation already!). And if more consistent means better, you're right. But who's counting?]

Davis (Halifax, Nova Scotia): Hi Bruce, I love your work with John Miller on ESPN, and was very fond of the Mrogan/Costas duo NBC once had for the World Series. That was delight! Do you think the A's under-estimated the power of Art Howe on their team, or on a team like the A's is a manager not as important? Thanks Very Much!!

Bruce Morgan: I think they underestimated his impact and a manager is always important. On another note, I'm not sure why Ken Macha is a better manager than Howe would have been. They could have kept Howe if they wanted him but Billy Beane wanted Macha. That is why Howe is in NY right now.

[Bruce: I don't think that the A's preferred Macha. I think that they preferred Macha's price tag. Howe is a known entity, but I don't think anyone views him as more than a competent manager. He had some poor years in Houston and in Oakland early on.]

Mike Ports.: Hi Bruce, Is Adam Dunn going to be a franchise player? What about Kerns, was he one of the top three rookies?

Bruce Morgan: It's too early to tell about all those guys being franchise players. A lot of guys have a good year or two but you have to be able to do it on a longer stretch than that. It's just too early to tell.

[Bruce: Yeah, but they have been very good, and there is no reason to think they won't. Offer an opinion. In the immortal words of John Blutarsky, "It don't cost nuthin."]

You Bastard!

Ryan, Riverdale: What kind of impact will the Angels' style of play have on other teams' game plans in 2003?

Bruce Morgan: It always has an impact when a team like that wins. The Angels are just a version of what the Yankees have been for so long. They hit and ran, hussled, went from first to third well, and hit a few HRs. They are very similar to the Yankees. I would think that blueprint is part of why the Angels were succssful. The smart teams tried to follow that blueprint.

[Bruce: Really? So where are all the Yankee disciples? Why are there so many teams that pray at the altar of the long ball and ignore small ball? Maybe because a little small ball just buttresses a team's success. It does not presage success.]

Jarid (Normal, IL): Hey Bruce. With the rumors the Cubs will make a hard push to get Dusty Baker, what do you think of them acquiring Jeff Kent and moving him to 3rd?

Bruce Morgan: If you read the paper it says they want Dusty Baker. Dusty would be a good fit anywhere he goes, he is the best manager in the game.

[Bruce: Is he better than Torre and Cox? Come on.]

Mary Jo Nelum, Chesapeake, VA: Is it a patented answer? Each time I hear someone say "Dusty Baker is the best manager in the league" I want to ask WHY do you say that? WHY DO YOU SAY THAT??

Bruce Morgan: The key to being a good manager is getting the most out of the players you have. That is very difficult to do in today's game with guys looking more at stats than wins. He has had teams with tremendous holes in them and still won over 90 games. That is why he has been Manager of the Year three times, more than anyone else in the game.

[Bruce: First, Bruce, you played with Pete Rose. The man was aware of every stat known to mankind. Second, Baker has gotten a lot out of his teams, but isn't what Cox and Torre have done, sustaining the excellence of their respective teams more impressive? By the way, Cox and LaRussa have won the Writers' award three times. Cox has won the TSN award 4 times.

Steven, Chicago: With the Angels winning the World Series after being 40 games out a year ago, what are the Cubs chances of turning it around? The talent is there, but where's the leadership?

Bruce Morgan: There aren't that many great teams so any team that can get that focus, can do it. If you get your ducks in a row, you can make a big jump in this game. There just aren't that many great teams, all teams have weaknesses. If you can cut your weaknesses, you will be right there with them. Any team could make it to the World Series next year.

Bruce Morgan: If Dusty goes to the Cubs, it's possible ..

[Bruce: Dusty can leap tall Cardinals in a single bound.]

Scott (New lenox, IL): Bruce: Was that Barry Bonds' last chance at a title?

Bruce Morgan: I would say close to the last chance, yes. Not because of him, but because I expect the house of cards in San Fran to come tumbling down if Dusty Baker leaves. I don't see them being a very good team after that.

[Bruce: He is faster than a speeding bullet. The departure of Jeff Kent will have a much more profound impact.]

PJ (Compton): It is my opinion that the WS would've been much better had Barry not been walked so many times. I think the intentional walk is ruining baseball . . .your thoughts, Mr. Morgan?

Bruce Morgan: I agree with you .. it ruined the WS for me as well and for Barry Bonds. I asked him if he was having fun because of all the walks and he said he really wasn't. It's just a shame. Dierker started that process last year and everyone built on it. It's a black eye on baseball. I don't know how you can change it though. There is no way you can control it really. It's one of the shortcomings of the game.

[Bruce: It's not a shortcoming. It's called strategy. The Giants lived by the sword and died by the sword. Sandwiching Bonds between two productive hitters in the second half spelled success. When Kent and Santiago both hit, it also proved an effective antidote to the walk during the Series. When Kent and Santiago struggled, the opposition walked Bonds and the Giants lost. This was also the case earlier in the year before Bonds and Kent flip-flopped. Aurilia and Kent were not having great first halves and that affected the on-field success. If they had an extra bat or two in the lineup or on the bench to relieve the pressure on Bonds, it would help.]

Fourth Bruce: Right, that concludes the readin' of the rules, Bruce.

First Bruce: This here's the wattle, the emblem of our land. You can stick it in a bottle, you can hold it in your hand.

Bruce Morgan: I agree with you

All Bruces: Amen!

First Bruce: Right, let's get some Sheilas.

Bruce Morgan: I would say close to the last chance, yes.

[An Aboriginie enters with a tray full of enormous steaks.]

Fourth Bruce: Ok!

Second Bruce: Ah, elevenses.

Third Bruce: This should tide us over 'till lunchtime.

Second Bruce: Reckon so, Bruce.

Bruce Morgan: I don't how long you are going to live!

First Bruce: Sydney Nolan! What's that ! [points at Bruce Morgan's head]

[Cut to an cartoon close up of Bruce Morgan's ear. Hold close up. Out pops Jon Miller smiling and waving. An arrow appears and points toward the ear.]

Voice Over: Number Nine: The ear. The ear.

[Return to original scene.]

All four Bruces and Bruce Morgan: [Singing in a row. Second Bruce is strumming a guitar.]

"Immanual Kant was a real piss-ant who was very rarely stable.

Heideggar, Heideggar was a boozy beggar who could think you under the table.

David Hume could out-consume Wilhem Fredrich Hegel.

And Whittgenstein was a beery swine who was just as sloshed as Schlegel.

There's nothing Nieizsche couldn't teach 'ya 'bout the raising of the wrist.

Socrates, himself, was permanently pissed.

John Stewart Mill, of his own free will, after half a pint of shanty was particularly ill.

Plato, they say, could stick it away, half a crate of whiskey every day!

Aristotle, Aristotle was a bugger for the bottle,

And Hobbs was fond of his Dram.

And Rene Descartes was a drunken fart: "I drink, therefore I am".

Yes Socrates himself is particularly missed;

A lovely little thinker, but a bugger when he's pissed.

Bruce Morgan:

In closing, baseball had another great season, after they resolved the labor issues. The games were great and the players performed well. I congratulate the fans because if you hadn't voiced your disapporoval, it never would have gotten done without a work stoppage. This was the year of the fans.

I look forward to all your questions again next season .. I hope you all enjoy the offseason and I hope your teams make some good moves over the winter.

Take care everyone.

[Bruce's Baseball Rants: Take care, Mr. Morgan. Thanks for all the hard work. We'll see you next year.]

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Catch As Catch Can

Two more managers were named and guess what? They, too, are former backup cathcers: Ned Yost and Ken Macha.

Yost, whose real first name is Edgar (!), also got the job as part of the "Hey, remember him?" school of manager casting. He played for the Brewers back when they had that "M-b" glove logo on their hats that were probably designed by the foppishly fashion-conscious Bud Selig.

Macha was a utility player for Pirates, Expos, and Blue Jays in the late '70s. He served as mostly an emergency catcher, playing only 4 games there. He was mainly a third baseman.

---

Right Above Women's College Basketball

Yesterday was a sad day in the baseball world. Just two days after the seventh game of the World Series, and ESPN.com has already dropped baseball out of its feautured sports links on its main page. It now appears at the top of the dark gray, inert sport links with, among others, PBA Bowling, Outdoors, and Action Sports, whatever that is-probably everything to Evil Kinieval to Tony Hawk.

"But if I go cold I won't get sold
I'll get put in the back in the discount rack
Like another can of beans"

Thank you Mr. Brinkley. Truer words have never been said.

---

San Juan Expos Continue Colonization

The Expos have exercized the $6-million option on 20-game-winner Bartolo Colon. With his value in the open marketplace, MLB could not defend not bringing him back at such a relatively low cost for next year. Besides now Bud gets to dictate where Colon goes at the trade deadline next year. Who's been naught and who's been nice? John Henry will probably get another present from the Expos. The man seems the perfect Smithers to Bud's Mr. Burns.

---

Go The Distance

Last night I couldn't sleep. I tossed and I turned worrying about the unimaginable. It wasn't the possibility of George Bush's personal war with Iraq, the Punch-and-Judy stock market, or my overwhelming concern for Winona Ryder's rights being trampled that troubled my sleep so. It was the prospect of the long winter months without a thread of baseball to keep me warm.

Then I heard it. "If you rant it, they will come."

It was a raspy, far-off voice. Where was it coming from?

I turned over and quickly got my answer. I was greeted by two glaring, unblinking, red-rimmed eyes above a maniacal smile. Festooned in the corner of the mouth and illuminating the face was the still-burning butt of a cigarette. An inch of ash was somehow still affixed. His white, pasty, moribund complexion belied the frenetic energy expressed in his eyes and his smile. The only part of him that moved was his left leg that bounced continually as if powered by some other disconnected source.

I then recognized the face. It was Ray Liotta. He emitted a short, piercing spasm of demented laughter while not batting an eye. His countenance returned to the maniacal smile that first greeted me.

I rubbed my eyes and queried, "Mr. Liotta, what are you doing here?"

"Is this heaven?" He asked suddenly confused.

"No, it's my bedroom. What are you doing here?"

"It was you, Ray. It was always you," he shot back with the same hoarse, throaty whisper, his eyebrows arching. The rest of his face stood at attention as if under the control of some far-off source.

"Ray? Who's Ray? He's Ray, not me, " I thought. I realized that his voice was still hoarse from all the shouting he had done in announcing the unassailable summit of humankind, MLB's Most Momentous Memories list, during the game four pre-game show. As if reading my mind, he pushed a copy of the DVD ($26.95 retail) towards me slowly shaking his head. I quickly scanned the cover and inset among the pictures of Cal Ripken, Mark McGwire, Nolan Ryan and other bygone greats of antediluvian yesteryear was the Rally Monkey with the caption "Hosted by the Anaheim Rally Monkey" followed by the TM trademark symbol. The monkey was surrounded by two bodacious bombshells, one miming a pitcher's motion and the other channeling Babe Ruth pointing to centerfield. Mr. Monkey wore sunglasses and was winking and giving the pair the "thumbs-up".

Realizing I had a thirsty guest, I asked, "Do you need a drink of water?"

He jerked his arm to show me a whiskey bottle, spilling a splash or two on the carpet, all the while not changing the expression on his face or batting an eye. He took a hard swig to further illustrate. Somehow the smile went on unabated until a thought seemed to cross his mind. Then he made a headlong dash for the window next to me and started to glare up into the sky, all the while mumbling something about the helicopters and Karen and the guns, and then he spit out, "Stir the sauce."

All of a sudden a lightning bolt shot from the sky and rent a tree across the street in two, and a young boy ran out and grabbed a still-burning hunk of wood. With lathe and wood-burning kit handy, he instantly fashioned a reasonable facsimile of a baseball bat with the words "www.wonderboy.com" burnt in. He sold it on eBay the next day.

I was understandably shaken, and crossed the room to the bathroom to splash some cold water on my face. But in the bathroom was Tim Robbins in his underwear and a pair of garters with the rose in the front, and he was breathing out of his eyelids.

That was enough for me. I went downstairs to get a drink of water for myself. Ray followed me, laughing and asking me , "Charlie, where's Lulu?" Downstairs was a young man in catcher's gear and a pinstriped uniform with "Mammoths" across the front seated at my kitchen table. He was sobbing softly, then looked up at me and suddenly elated, said, "Author!"

Liotta responded for me saying, "You're confused. I'm Henry. This is Ray."

I looked at Liotta and he smiled ever-so-slightly more and explained, "It's Jimmy. He's the kind of guy that roots for bad guys in the movies."

The catcher got a quizzical look on his face, stared at Liotta, and said, "Are you talking to me?" Then his voice changed to a squeaky Brooklynese, "Do I amuse you? Am I a clown?"

Liotta demurred saying, "What? I don't know. You tell a good story."

Then the catcher said, "You didn't get me down, Ray," with a sly smile on his punch-drunk face.

I was tired and hungry. I grabbed a box of corn flakes pouring the contents into a cereal bowl with my head resting on my hand and the crook of my arm on the counter. The two suddenly stopped their bickering and shouted "I'm melting." I looked up through the falling flakes as the two disappeared into the corn flakes.

All of a sudden the "This is CNN" guy also in catcher's gear and white uni emblazoned with a rainbow motif was standing behind me saying slowly and in a self-satisfied manner, "They will come, Bingo. They will most definitely come."

I asked him, "Is anybody here going to hit my invite pitch?" He smiled. I grabbed a nearby frying pan and conked him on the head. I tossed the pan on the counter and returned to bed. I slept soundly except for a brief nightmare in which I pitched for the Tigers and the guy from Boogie Nights was my catcher. It wasn't all bad: Kelly Preston was there too.

I awoke with a sudden jolt. It was the realization that the ghosts had been trying to tell me that Mike's Baseball Rants must go on through the cold winter months. That if I continue to rant, people will come. Or maybe it was James Earl Jones standing over my bed awaiting the moment that I awoke to return my favor with the frying pan, handle grasped between both hands and his body arched for a swing. As the pan made contact with my head, I awoke from these uneasy dreams, to find myself transformed into a giant insect. So I showered and went to work.

Of course, all this is to say that Mike's Baseball Rants will be there throughout the barren winter months to deliver baseball stories of a topical and an historical nature. I don't know if I can keep up with the output that I've sustained during the season, but I'll give it a shot. So thanks for reading, and please join me for the ride in the off-season and into the 2003 regular season.

P.S., If you get all the references contained herein, you are a bigger geek than I, Horatio.

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Indians Wedge 34-Year-Old Into Managerial Opening, None Injured

When I heard the Indians had tabbed Eric Wedge to manage next season, my first reaction was, "Oh good. A backup catcher turned manager, there aren't many of those in the majors." Some may remember Wedge collecting 5 home runs and slugging .500 in a backup role to 2002 Royals manager Tony Pena on the 1992 Red Sox. No news as yet as to when John Marzano, the other 1992 Red Sox catcher, plans to manage a major-league team. We'll keep you posted.

That would have been the end of, as they say, that until I heard that Wedge was only 34, and I thought the move a bit more interesting. Prior to the signing the youngest manager was former backup catcher (surprise!) Lloyd McClendon of Pittsburgh, 43. It made me wonder have often a terciagenarian (?) was hired to manage a major-league club. I looked it up, and it was far more than I expected. The last was Terry Francona who allegedly managed the Phils in 1997 at the age of 38. The last 34-year-old to manage in the majors was Frank Quilici of the Twins who in 1972-73 managed Minnesota to a 122-124 record at the ripe old age of 33-34.

The youngest recorded manager of all time, was Hall-of-Famer Monte Ward who guided the Providence Grays to an 18-13 record in 1880 at the age of 20. By 30, he had organized the players into their own league to compete with the majors. Ward would also lose the presidency of the National League by one vote due to this action. He also owned the Braves for a short time and worked with the 1914-15 Federal League that competed with the majors. Oh, and he was a lawyer with a thriving practice. Kinda makes you feel like a slacker, huh?

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D-Rays Add Piniella But Already Winn-Less

The Devil Rays finally signed hometown boy Lou Piniella to a $13-million, four-year contract today. But in so doing they traded arguably their best player and sole All-Star game representative, Randy Winn, to the Mariners as compensation for his negotiation rights.

It reminds me of the Chuck Tanner trade to the Pirates. Tanner managed the A's for one year in 1976 before being traded by Charley Finley for catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000. Tanner went on to win a World Series in Pittsburgh in 1979. Don't expect such miracles from Sweet Lou.

This job gets him set up for retirement though as he builds his nest egg and, as he turns 60 next year, looks for a nice condo in a Floridian elderly community. Rumors have it that Piniella has been practicing his shuffleboard, kinasta, and compaint-letter writing skills.

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Don't Bet on Repeat

One day after the 2002 World Series ends and we already have the odds for the winner of the 2003 edition. The Yankees and the A's lead the AL with 7:5 odds while the D-Backs and Cardinals head the NL at 3:1. The Giants and Angels, this year's World Series foes, are both listed at 4:1. If you feel lucky, punk, go with the D-Rays who top out the list at 200:1 despite adding big-name manager Lou Piniella.

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The Long Reign of Bud the Execrable

Now that the joy of the baseball season is over, Bud Selig again has started his reign of terror swooping down on unsuspecting villagers, scooping them up with his talons, and slathering them with his excessive amounts of hair oil and drool. No need to thank me for the image.

Last year, Bud spent the entire offseason talking contraction and threatening fines on owners who stepped out of his goose-stepping line. This year's reign of terror has begun with small sorties to be sure, but they are equally offensive. Bud is now taking time from his busy schedule to ban kids in the dugouts after Darren Baker almost became the filling in a David Bell-Bengie Molina sandwich at home in game 5. Instead of being concerned for the children's welfare, baseball officials are concerned that ''We look ridiculous and very unprofessional,'' evidently something they are not concerned with when they allow the incredibly uncharismatic Bud Selig represent them. Instead of seeing the presence of the Giants' sons in the dugout as 1) an overt symbol of the baseball tradition being passed on from father to son or as 2) a continuation of the long-standing tradition of baseball sons being used as batboys or as 3) just good PR, they choose to consider it offensive. What a bunch of out-of-touch stuffed shirts!

Next, Selig is considering a more heavily enforced moratorium on manager signing during the playoffs. He is allegedly fining the Mets for allowing new manager Art Howe's agent leak the story. The Mariners and Devil Rays are also on Santa Bud's naughty list. Good, Bud, let's suppress any non-World Series stories until all of the fan interest has completely dissipated. A moratorium would preclude teams from signing big names (like Trammell to the Tigers) to help boost season-ticket sales for the upcoming seasons while reporters are still paying attention to the sport.

While stories abound that the World Series popularity has slipped and no one knows who will eventually own the Expos or where they will reside, Bud Selig chooses to dwell on these non-issues. By the way, did he ever do anything at all to prevent another All-Star game fiasco? I'm surprised he didn't fine Brenly and Torre and declare victory.

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World Series: Game 7 Notes

Here are my thoughts while watching game seven of the Series yesterday as told to my scorecard. Editorial commentary in square brackets. By the way, I have devised my own scorecard with one page devoted to each team's batting lineup and another to the pitchers (3 in total). I record each pitch (including pickoff attempts, stolen bases, wild pitches, etc.), in a separate line under each cell and I have a footer devoted to the legend that continues to grow as time goes on. I also record nice plays with an asterisk, a slash in the corner of the cell of the last batter faced for a pitching change, and I draw the diamond as the runner proceeds around the actual diamond. Yeah, I'm a geek. Henry Chadwick would be proud.

Top of 1st: Aurilia K's 2-3.
Kent-flies out on warning track.

Bottom of 1st: Eckstein 2-0 pitch looked good. Walks-other balls not close.
Bud Black-says "Look at Barry. He knows we're going to walk him if he gets on"-[referring to Bonds on deck] when Kent was up [in top of first].
Erstad-nice 1-0 bunt.
Salmon-Hernandez evens count [2-2]. Misses outside. Looks shaken-ball inside for walk.
Anderson-Ball one looks pretty good. Hernandez upset with [home plate ump] Gerry Crawford. Soft liner to center. Eckstein-caught off [double play], bad play. [i know that he's now America's sweetheart, but I'm still not convinced about Eckstein especially as a leadoff hitter. His .363 on-base percentage is good, but it was third on the Angels and his 13 times caught stealing in 34 attempts is nothing to brag about. It's almost inexcusable that he as the leadoff hitter caught so far off especially with only one out and two on.]

Top of 2nd: Bonds-lines out to second.
Santiago-1-1 fastball just inside for ball 2. Single. First hit of the game.
Snow-3-2 pitch Santiago running-fouled off. Draws a throw to first. Santiago going again on 3-2. Line drive gapper to right-center. Santiago to third. [good idea to start runner.] Snow-stays at first even though no one at second (McCarver points this out), but man getting relay is between him and the bag.
Sanders-McCarver says Goodwin not DH'ing since they want him available to PH for Sanders. Why not just use the lefty? Hanging breaker 2-2. Sac Fly to deep left. Throw into sceond, 1-0 Giants.
Bell-1st pitch, way foul but in upper deck [he had a couple of those that he turned on way foul]. Pitch 2-slider in dirt almost got away. Pitch 3-slider off corner, gets strike call. 5th pitch-just inside 2-2; Slider to K.

Bottom of 2nd: Glaus-two called strikes (2nd inside), K's on slider in dirt.
Fullmer-2-0 breaking ball on outside corner [strike]. Next pitch, tried the same thing but got too much plate, nice catch to his right for Lofton.
Speizio-everything away. Loses him after starting 1-2.
Molina-strike on inside corner but Santiago set up outside. 3rd pitch, Molina clearly went aroundm but third-base ump says didn't go. Hits a hanger to gap in left-center, double, game tied 1-1. McCarver points out that the ball bounced off the top of fence-ground rule double would have kept runner at third.

Top of 3rd: Feliz-[DH batting ninth.] Act of desparation?
Aurilia-tips into family jewels of Molina [on pitch one].
Poll-"which team has the momentum?" Result: Angels, well didn't they just score?

Bottom of 3rd: Eckstein-Bonds third straight bobbled ball (plus one over his head). [single to left.]
Erstad-soft line to left. 1st and 2nd.
Giant BP-no one is up. Baker has really dragged his feet getting pitchers ready.
Salmon-Slider on 2-1, low and away (2-2). Hit on right hand.
Zerbe and Witasick up in BP.
Anderson-nice backdoor fastball, strike 1. Frozen rope down right field line, 4-1 Angels, on high hanging fastball-too much plate. (How improbable was this after his last few games?) Sanders was hit by fan with thunderstick [retrieving ball]-interfered. [Didn't appear to alter play, but definition only applies to touched ball:

INTERFERENCE (d) Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball. On any interference the ball is dead.

What if fan had knocked Sanders down?]
Glaus-IBB, Hernandez gone.
Zerbe in, should have been in vs. Anderson.
Fullmer-grounder, almost a DP, but not [hit] hard enough.
McCarver & Buck-argue that Sanders not interfered with but fan should be ejected. [I agree.] They announce fan is being ejected.
Spiezio-High hopper over third base bag. Bell throws Anderson out by a stride at home. Great play, but was it fair? [couldn't tell from the angle.]
Molina-grounds out to 2B. Great work Molina.

Top of 4th: Lackey may be iffy after long 1/2 inning. [Hernandez rely labors with men on. He should be used to it by now.] Heart of SF order up.
McCarver-"17 inches of real estate." [Uses teleprompter to illustrate.]
Kent-0-2 fastball-called strike. Looked good but Kent doesn't like it.
Bonds-2-0 fastball down the middle, called strike. I think Lackey missed because Molina set up outside, grounder to deep short (Glaus because of the shift), gets to it, but can't get Bonds.
Santiago-nice 0-1 liner over short. Lackey didn't get ball far enough inside.
Snow-big AB. 1-0 fastball looked high and inside-called inside. Flies out.
Rueter-up in SF BP.
Sanders-slider up the pike-looked good, 1-0. Swings through belt-high fastball (1-1). Same thing (1-2). Slider away in dirt (why?), 2-2. Molina and Lackey confer. Fastball-not high enough, fouled off. Fly out.

Bottom of 4th: Kennedy-Rueter in, Zerbe came out due to blister, would have stayed in for [lefty] Kennedy. 1-2 then two close ball calls outside, 3-2. K's on high heat.
Eckstein-strike one called looked inside. Soft liner to left, fan's think it will go an additional 50 feet over wall, out.
Darren Baker-[close-up] loses gum, keeps chewing anyway. Thank you, Fox.
Erstad-K's on pitch 2+ feet outside.

Top of 5th: Bell-soft liner to left-center. Great running catch by Erstad.
Feliz-two fastball strikes. 2 sliders in dirt. K's on slider.
Lofton-showing bunt on ball 1. They need the top of the order to wake up (0-for-6 with 2 K's). Checks swing, 2-2. Fans overwrought, want K. Works a walk.
Bud Black-out to mound. Donnelly up [in BP].
Aurilia-almost throws ball away in throw to 1st. Flies out on first pitch

Bottom of 5th: Anderson-3 unassisted. The last AB keeps lookin odder.
Donnelly-taking over for Lackey in 6th.
Glaus-Pitched to carefully. 5-pitch walk. [See, I said that they'd give him the Bonds' treatment.]
Fullmer-3-2, grounds to pitcher.

Top of 6th: Kent-Molina set up away, ball at Kent's head. Not good sign. High heat, to third.
Top 3 are now 0-for-8 with walk and 2 K's.
Bonds-pops up on high heat.
Santiago-swings at pitch off plate outside. Tips of Molina's mask. Empathizes with Angel catcher. Takes ball on outside corner-called ball. 2-2 way inside. (Angel fans want every pitch.) 3-2, ball way outside (fans though it caught inside corner). Ball 4 low. 3rd time on base.
Snow-0-1, low fastball over plate. Roped into right, double. Santiago holds at third. Bud Black to mound.
Goodwin-PH for Sanders, why not just start him? 1-0 outside fastball-called strike (close). Three straight fouls. K's on outside fastball.

Bottom of 6th: Spiezio-Rueter still in-looked shaky last inning. How many times does McCarver have to mention his father [Bonds' father played a bit, too.] Another plug for Sandfrog. Flies to right.
Molina-3-1, doubles to deep right-center. Off out-of-town scoreboard. Nice backup by Goodwin.
Kennedy-hits to right. Out. Lomina to third.
Witasick-up in BP. Just getting ready. Rueter must face Eckstein. Why wasn't someone up?
Eckstein-nice catch by Kent on liner.

Top of 7th:Bell-Rodriguez and Schoeneweis up in BP. Anderson catches ball with back against wall. Just missed HR.
Feliz-looks silly on breaking ball outside, 0-2. K's on three pitches. Looks pathetic. Why waste outs on this guy?
Lofton-Erstad catches 1st-pitch flay against wall in right-center.

Bottom of 7th: Flashbacks to '61 Angels. Fox-now anoints Angels as champs.
Rueter-still in? Is anyone up in BP?
Erstad-quick 2-0, 3-0 (pull Rueter if walks?). Does Rueter a favor and goes after high 3-1, ground out.
Salmon-3-1, 2nd straight. Witasick and Eyre ready in BP. Strikeout called on low fastball.

Top of 8th: F-Rod in; Why not Percival [with heart of order]?
Aurilia-takes two (hoping Rodriguez wild?). Strikes put on slider outside. 0-for-4 with two K's [on the day].
Kent-called strike, looked outside. Fouls off-Rodriguez looks sharp. K's on slider over plate. 0-for-4 with two K's.
Bonds- 3-0, 3-1-Bonds thought it was low (looked like he was right). Walks.
Santiago-fouls three off. Looks off-balance. K's outside.

Bottom of 8th: Worrell is in. Uh-oh.
Michael Eisner is a geek.
Bud Selig-looking goofy.
Galus-K's.
Fullmer-high K (Crawford wants to go home). Snow great dive on ball just off line, 3-1.
Poll-"If Angels win is Barry Bonds MVP?" [didn't see result]

Top of 9th: Percival in. Is it a lift for the Giants after Rodriguez?
Snow-ball one way outside. Snow shows bunt on another outside ball. Fastball right down the pike-taking al the way. Gets call on outside corner, 2-2. Turns on inside fastball, Misses spot-Molina outside. [single to right.]
Goodwin-McCarver predicts bunt. I think that's a bad option with a 3-run deficit. Shows bunt on 2nd strike. Grounder to 2nd-they get lead runner. Nice slide by Snow to ensure no DP.
Bell-Goodwin took second.[They didn't give him stolen base, good.] Shinjo on deck. Inside strike-maybe to correct bad strike two call. 3-1. Walk.
Shinjo-Giants have no bench. McCarver calls him pinch-hitter but just replacement DH. Nice outside strike. Fouls back. Breaking ball-just a bit outside. Timing fastball-hits one straight back. K's on high heat too far outside.
Lofton-Flies out. Angels win [Giants do win the pennant though.]
Darren Baker is crying. I'm crying too: no baseball for 5 mos.

Postgame: Bud Selig-Booed. [The first nice thing that I've said about the Angels fans so far.] Such a bad public speaker. [Take you hands out of your pockets.] Calls them the "Cali...Anaheim Angels"-moron.
Jackie Autry-calls them the California Angels, too.
Jeanne-"Rookie manager been here three years"-re. Scioscia, huh?
MVP-Glaus. Right call. Selig barely shakes hands and dives out like there's a fastball aimed for his head.

My summation after reading over my notes is:

1) Gerry Crawford called an awful game. The Fox crew hasn't called umps on poor strike zone adherence the whole postseason. The last three were inconsistent, and Crawford was the worst of the lot. He was pretty consistently inconsistent though. The only time it seemed to really affect the game was on Molina going around and that was the third-base ump's call. Of course, it didn't help Hernandez much, but then again he was easily distracted.

2) The Angels pitched well, but I submit the Giants offense hog-tied itself as much if not more than the Angels' pitchers. Other than F-Rod, none dominated. They pitched well enough, but missed spots often, and the Giants just did not take advantage of the mistakes.

3) Baker needs to get his bullpen up in these important games. Hernandez should not have faced Anderson. The BP did amazingly well, but when they started to falter slightly, Baker had no options because the BP was not up. This was inexcusable given the importance of the game. You could also argue that he picked the wrong pitcher to start, but hindsight is always 20-20. My problem was in his reluctance to pull Hernandez after he continually proved ineffective.

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World Series: Game 7 Epilogue

It's great to see an organization wins its first World Championship. I remember in 1980 when my Phillies won theirs, it was a catharsis for the whole organization. It was great to see Glaus get the MVP. Some will say that Bonds had better numbers, but you can point to his numbers since the Angel comeback started yesterday, add in his poor defense, and Glaus is a better call. I do feel bad for Barry. This may have been his last, best shot.

To sum up game 7, the Angels pitching dominated. Their offense bunched a few hits in the second and third, and that's all that they needed (only one hit after that). Anderson's shot with his overall poor play of late was almost shocking. Who would expect this team to win with the way that their number 4 hitter and left-fielder was dominated by the Giants' number 4 hitter and left-fielder. Rodriguez came in and pitched what might have been the most important inning, the eighth with the numbers 2, 3, and 5 hitters whiffing and only one ball called among them.

The Giants can feel good about how their bullpen kept them close. Chad Zerbe came in in the 3rd with men on 1st and second, none out, and 3 runs already across. He got the next three in order (thanks to a great play by David Bell) with none scoring. Kirk Rueter pitched four innings of one-hit ball leaving one wondering why he did not start or at least come in while the game was a bit closer. Santiago and Snow had big nights going 5-for-7 with a walk combined. Not much else good can be said for the offense tonight. Bonds was not allowed to be a factor due to the top three hitters' inability to produce: 0-for-12 with a walk and four strikeouts. The odd choose of Feliz as the starting DH proved ill-advised as he and Shinjo combined for an 0-for-4 night (with 3 strikeouts) from the DH spot, 9th--maybe the pitchers should have hit for themselves. The Giants will likely have a much different feel next year. Baker--Dusty and Darren--seems gone. The GM Sabean may be, too. Kent will likely leave as Bell is moved to 2nd and Feliz is primed to start at third. Others like Goodwin, Lofton, Sanders, and Mueller may leave through free agency. Hernandez was trade bait all season and will likely be jettisoned.

The Angels will likely keep their core of players with only role players Palmeiro, Cook, Ochoa possibly leaving. This team is good and young and may enjoy future success in the postseason.

Now to my predictions:

1) Hernandez vs. Lackey does not inspire me. But I think that Hernandez may be a better gamble just because he will be able to eat more innings if it's close.

Well, that would have been a bad bet. Hernandez pitched poorly and was left in for far too long as it was at 2+ innings. Lackey gave a gutsy performance: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.

2) Both bullpens are now iffy, but I think the Giants have a few guys who are smaller question marks.

Both bullpens performed extremely well tonight. The Giants may have been a bit better, but it didn't matter.

3) Giants win 7-5.

The 5 runs for the Angels was in the right ballpark, but the Giants never really got much offense going with just 4 men in scoring position all night.

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World Series: Game 7 Preview Du Jour

Hernandez vs. Lackey does not inspire me. But I think that Hernandez may be a better gamble just because he will be able to eat more innings if it's close. Both bullpens are now iffy, but I think the Giants have a few guys who are smaller question marks. Giants win 7-5.

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Seventh Heaven

Tonight will the 23rd time that a game seven is at the home field of the team that won game 6. Do you know what happened in the previous 22 game sevens? The home team won 11 and lost 11. The home team has won the last 6 straight dating back to 1982.

Do you know what that means for tonight? Abosolutely nothing, but I thought it was interesting.

By the way, in the 1962 Series the Giants forced a game 6 at home and lost 1-0 to the Yankees.

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World Series: Notes from Game Six

Wow, we're going to game 7. The Angels were stymied by Ortiz but came alive against the usually reliable Giants bullpen. The Giants build a lead, knock out the starter, knock out Rodriguez, and then are held in check for the longest two innings you'll ever see while the Angels score six to win.

Here are my notes from the game, assessment of my predictions, and my predictions for tomorrow.

Pregame: HP Ump-Tim McClelland

Top of 1st: Lofton-popup down 3rd base line. Important out.
Aurilia-popup to center. Another big out.
Kent-liner right back at Appier. Kent looks relaxed and ready.
Bonds-IBB, moves Kent into scoring position. Are the odds better that Bonds gets 2B, 3B or HR than makes an out? [I checked. In 2002, Bonds got an extra base hit in 14.5% of the non-IBB plate appearances, 27.4% he got a hit-in case they are worried about Kent taking third on a single-, and 34.6% of the time he generated an out. It seems like a poor gamble.]
Santiago-slider on ball one didn't miss by much inside, 2-0-almost hits Santiago, fastball way inside at his belt, 2 nice sliders, fouls out.

Bottom of 1st: Salmon-pitched carefully, nice comeback from 3-0 by Ortiz, Angels go meekly.

Top of 2nd: Sanders-seems like a nice guy discussing Baker
Bell-2nd pitch 4 inches outside, called a strike. K's on slider.
Appier-looks good.

Bottom of 2nd: Hits one to the middle of the warning track. Lofton has time.
Glaus-nice little change down the middle [strike 1], flips him on second pitch. McCarver says, "Glaus received the high hard one."-I emit Beavis & Butthead laugh. Being pitched carefully. Walk.
Fullmer-pitch 1, nice inside fastball. Ortiz is starting to miss spots-2nd pitch is way outside. Same for pitch 3. Santago points glove at him to say calm down. Popup on high fastball. Looked bad on 2nd high fastball.
Spiezio-Ortiz has thrown a first-ball strike to all 4 batters this inning. Pops Up.
Through first 2-0 runs, 1 hit, 3 baserunners, 61 pitches. Game 2-11 runs, 13 hits, 14 baserunners, 96 pitches. Ortiz: 31 pitches, 18 strikes. Appier: 30 pitches, 16 strikes.

Top of 3rd: Dunston-flies out on 1st pitch. Why is he in there? I guess b/c he's in the sons club.
Lofton-Glaus looks for bunt. Runs in and barehands a throw to 1st. Mike Schmidt would be proud.
Aurilia-Shows a little patience (last two hitters went on 1st pitch). 5-pitch walk.
Kent-1st pitch nice backdoor slider. Pitch 3, right off inside corner.

Bottom of 3rd: Kennedy-strikes out on fastball in the dirt after three straight fouls.
Eckstein-McCarver: "Doesn't have extra base hit, but seems like he does." Huh? Drippler to short on high fastball.

Top of 4th: Bonds-1st pitch bounces. 2nd pitch off plate inside-got strike call (slider fouled ump). 2-1. 3-1 (both low and inside). Ball 4 almost hits ankles. Do you think Appier remembers game 2 HR? 1st leadoff hitter in game to get on.
Santiago-bunts for base hit foul. How often do you see a catcher try to bunt for a hit? Bll 2 inside and low. Scioscia looks ticked off at call. Nice inside fastball, 2-2. DP: Glaus nice pick of bad hop, has time and takes it to get DP. Reminiscent of Santiago in game 4.
Appier-throwing well but lots of balls (28 of 55 pitches, plus 3 walks). Ginats should be more patient.

Bottom of 4th:Salmon-only 2nd 2-0 count by Ortiz. 1st hit off Otiz. Aurilia deep to his right, throw late.
Anderson-1st time Ortiz has fallen behind 1-0 to two straight hitters. Routine DP. Has created 7 outs in last 6 ABs.
Both pitchers finish 4th, go farther than both combined in game 2.
Ortiz 50 pitches. Appier 55.

Top of 5th: Sanders-Swings through high heat (0-1)
Bell-first two pitches same but called differently (1-1), McClelland being inconsistent on inside pitches. Swings through slider. Single to left of Eckstein, knocks it down, single. 3rd infield hit.
Dunston-all one on low fastball. Ump inconsistent low too. Appier-worried about Bell, 4 throws to first. Francisco Rodriguez-up in BP. HR right over fence down LF line. Why throw a low ball? Obligatory Gene Clines reaction shot. How many guys get to hit HR in the Series with their son in the dugout? Big hug from Bonds. (is that aloof?)
Lofton-3-1 gapper to right-center. Double. Appier gone-Wow, that's quick. He's upset. Mouths "God damn it!" Rodriguez in.
Aurilia-shows bunt on close ball1. Lofton steals third on one-bounce slider outside. Now infield in. 2-2, grounded slider to shallow short.
Kent-strike one on slider. Quickly 0-2. Slider in the dirt outside-WP & run scored, 3-0 Giants.

Bottom of 5th: Glaus-quick 0-2. Ball right off inside corner. Hits nice fastball to Lofton at wall. McCarver & Buck-ode to Lofton, forget that was killing them (only 1 hit) in the first three games.
Fullmer-another long fly ball.
Spiezio-3-0 (2nd bounced). Nice inside fastball, 3-2. Nice battle. Ground ball to 1st. Ortiz gets over to bag quickly, 3-1.

Top of 6th: Bonds smashes a high 0-1 slider. If they win tonight, he'll be MVP.
Gene Clines-obligatory hoot after HR. In upper register.
Snow-nice opposite field liner. Single. Rodriguez-slider is flattening out.
Don't understand why no one is up in Angel bullpen.
Sanders-swings through two sliders, 1-2. K's looking on slider.
Fox-showing '54 Giants parade. Ready to crown SF.

Bottom of 6th:Molina-lines to right, all 6 leadoff hitters have been outs. Ortiz has lead all off them off with a strike.
Kennedy-jammed but fists right past Kent. Bat shatters and goes toward 2nd. Did it effect Kent? 2nd hit.
Eckstein-huts it as far as he can, foul down left-field line; Prtiz-worried about runner, didn't he learn from Appier? Aurilia-takes his time on a dribbler, gets him. Kennedy-to second. 1st runner in scoring position for Angels.
Erstad-3-0, Ortiz is not even close. Gets low strike called (3-1). Third 3-ball count of game. Walk.
Rodriguez & Eyre up in BP.
Salmon-0-1 ball called, looked good. Chased shoulder-high fastball (1-2)-couldn't check. Strikes out looking at fastball down the pike. Huge out.

Top of 7th:Dunston-McCarver: "He waited 39 years for the biggest hit of his life"
Lofton-nice liner on soft high fastball to RF.
Why is Rodriguez still in? Too late to keep him in.
Lofton-SB on pitch out. Molina throw in dirt. Eckstein holds him at 2nd (can't get out of way) still gets to 3rd.
Aurilia-why is he bunting with the infield in? Fouled off. Hangs 2-2 slider. Called strike 3 on slider on black.
Donnelly-up in BP (finally).
Kent-1-2 slider hangs, fouled off. Nice liner.
Bonds-shift on, 1-1 fastball inside when Molina set up outside-could have been a strike though. 2nd called strike (2-2). K's on inside slider in dirt. Fans are happy-can they see scoreboard?

Bottom of 7th: Fox playing "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart during Bonds retrospective. What is this the Olympics?
Ortiz-starting to look shaky, will give him short leash; why isn't anyone up in BP?
Anderson-ball 1 way outside, 2-0 (Throw strikes!). Why does Anderson swing at high 2-0 pitch? Out.
Glaus-Nice liner to left.
Fullmer-Rodriguez now up in SF BP. Eyre too. Snow-holding Glaus with 5-run lead.
Ortiz-if they had the bullpen up to start the inning, he'd be gone. Baker is pulling him. Is Rodriguez ready? Baker gives Ortiz game ball.
Rodriguez-third pitcher to appear in first 6 WS games (Darrol Knowles and Dan Quisenberry others). Dueling F-Rods again.
Spiezio-Worrell & Eyre up; fouls 3 back, starting to time fastball, full count. HR right over rightfield fence. Sanders looked like he had it the whole way but ran out of room. Huge AB for Spiezio. Inside fastball, turned. Now it's a ballgame, 5-3 Giants.
Palmeiro-PHs for Molina, necessary now that no one on? Pull Rodriguez for lefty? 0-2 fouls off Santiago's arm, stays in. Works to 2-2 (Angel fans think that they are leading), K's on high heat outside.
Eyre-lefty in to face Kennedy. Why not bring in Gil if brought in Palmeiro? Too early? Gone. Brought in for one hitter and lost him. Worrell in.
This inning has slowed to a crawl. Does Rodriguez come in topitch 8th? Do they want him to?
Eckstein-soft liner to left. Angels fans cheer as Sanders puts it away.

Top of 8th: Donnelly in; Why not Percival? Giants need some runs back.
Santiago-knocked down ball 1. Knocked down, ball 2-did he go around? 3rd ball (3-2) high & tight, bounced ball 4.
Percival-doing push-ups, not pitching in BP.
Spiezio-must hold runner with lefty up.
Snow-goes on first pitch. Fly out.
Percival-now up in BP.
Sanders-K's on fastball waist-high inside.
Buck-"When you think about it, a kid from Brooklyn (Dunston) helped Giants take a 2-0 lead." (Yeah, and God spelled backwards is "dog". Kinda makes you think.)
Bell-0-2 fastball wide. The crowd is sure that it caught the corner, replay shows otherwise. K's. Donnelly comes up big with man on.

Bottom of 8th: Worrell-must pitch well because Nen can't go more than 1 inning (with heart of order up).
Erstad-lines one over fence in right, 5-4. Floating change-up.
Salmon-No one is up in BP for Giants. Single to shallow center (defense playing back). Chone Figgens (why doesn't it sound like Bone anyway?)-Pinch runs.
Nen-is now up in BP.
Anderson-why no lefty in? Grounder down the 1st-base line. Foul. Blooper to left, bobbled by Bonds. 2nd and 3rd, error on Bonds (for both runners or just the trailing one?).
McCarver-"The derring-do of Chone Figgens" (How long has been waiting to pepper his play-by-play with that one?)
Nen-Coming in.
Glaus-strike one on ball 2 ft outside (1-1). Corners in. Ball 2, 2 ft outside. Doesn't go (2-1). Lined to wall in left. Bonds bobbles again, 6-5 Angels. High fastball missed spot, too far inside. Will be MVP if Angels win.
SF BP-no one up?
Fullmer rips a foul at 0-2. Next pitch high-ripped down RF line, 1 ft foul. K's on low slider.
Spiezio-IBB to get to J. Molina (Wooten is emergency catcher, caught 25 games last year, 2 this year).
J. Molina-bunts first pitch foul. Bunts 2nd and 3rd, successfully. McCarver hates it but it does avoid the DP.
Kennedy-1-0 pitch in the dirt-Kennedy still swings. Tips to Santiago.

Top of 9th: If the tie it, can Nen come back out?
Dunston is set to lead off. I would pull him for Goodwin with Percival probably in.
Goodwin-DH vs. Percival (hmm?), 2-1-does Percival a favor swinging at a ball 2 ft outside. K's on fastball down the middle.
Lofton-frozen on 0-1 slow fastball. Angels fans now want everything to be called a strike. Tough AB for Lofton. Fouls out.
Aurilia-1-1 pitch close on outside corner. Takes him up the ladder. Strikeout. We've got a game seven.

Predictions: 1) Kent continues comeback.

He was 2-for-4 with an RBI, not bad.

2) Both pitchers go at least 4 innings.

Kevin Appier went 4.1 and Russ Ortiz went 6.1. Good.

3) The Angels' offensive returns.

It took its time about it but those seventh and eighth inning rallies qualify.

4) Francisco Rodriguez gives up the go-ahead run in the sixth or seventh inning.

Well, it wasn't the go-ahead run but he gave up two in 2.2 innings. The judges will accept that.

5) The Giants win 6-5.

Right score. Wrong team. 50% aint bad.

6) If the Angels win tonight, I think they win tomorrow as well.

This turned out to be a better prediction than my actual game 7 prediction. Go with your instincts, I always say, at least from now on.

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World Series: Game 6 Preview

Tonight's game 6 appears to be a replay of game 2. The pitchers, Angel Kevin Appier and Giant Russ Ortiz, are the same and again it will be played in Anaheim's Edison Field. Again the Giants lead the Angels by one game after having won the previous meeting just as in game 2. The circumstances, however, are much different given that the Angels are now facing elimination.

What can we look for in game 2? Each team hopes that its pitcher goes a bit farther this time around. In game 2, Ortiz lasted only 1-2/3 allowing seven runs on nine hits. Appier lasted two innings and allowed five runs on five hits including three home runs. Each team would love to take the pressure off their relief corps. The Angels will probably choose not to rely in Ben Weber who gave up five runs in game 5, but do have Francisco Rodriguez, Brendan Donnelly, lefty Scott Schoeneweis, and closer Troy Percival rest and ready to go. The Angels will also have the bat of Brad Fullmer re-inserted in the lineup. The Angels hope a return to Anaheim will help revive their bats. They have scored only seven runs in the last two games and did not score after the sixth in either game.

The Giants hope that Jeff Kent's return to productivity in game 5 was not short-lived. They hope to keep the pressure on the Angels by having Bonds sandwiched between two productive hitters in Kent and Benito Santiago. They hope that the top two hitters, Lofton and Aurilia, continue to get on as they did in game five collecting five hits and five runs. They hope that the bottom of the order continues to produce. They hope that the bullpen continues to dominate (2.82 ERA in the Series while pitching more innings than the starters). The only negatives for the Giants is that they have to play in Anaheim and that they have to insert one of the subpar players on the bench in the lineup as DH (or rather that the Angels get to insert a pretty good batter as theirs).

Really, there is no reason not to think that the Giants will clinch their first championship since moving from New York tonight. But that's why the play the games. The pressure may be on the Angels to avoid elimination tonight, but the last thing the Giants want is play game 7 in front of Anaheim's exuberant fans. It will be important for both teams to get on the scoreboard first and try to get to the bullpen as quickly as possible. If the Angels break out first, they might find the Giants starting to look forward to game 7. The Giants don't have that luxury, as the Angels will throw every thing but the game 7 starter at them.

I expect a much lower scoring game than game 2 but one probably just as close. What Kent and Santiago do will probably dictate the outcome from the Giants' side. The Angels need to start bunching their hits again. They only got two or more hits in a row three times in the last two games, each time scoring at least a run. They will need better production from their number 2 to number 5 hitters than they have gotten in the last two games.

Predictions: Kent continues comeback.

Both pitchers go at least 4 innings.

The Angels' offensive returns.

Francisco Rodriguez gives up the go-ahead run in the sixth or seventh inning.

The Giants win 6-5.

Game 7 Preview (even if unnecessary):

Neither team has a great option for a starting pitching in game 7. It would be Ramon Ortiz' spot, but he is suffering from tendonitis in the wrist of his pitching hand. Game 4 starter would be the best option. For the Giants it is Livan Hernandez's turn but his star has fallen dince his game 3 performance (6 runs, 5 earned in 3-2/3).

If the Angels win tonight, I think they win tomorrow as well.

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I Like Barry Bonds and I Don't Care Who Knows It

Barry Bonds is having a tremendous World Series with 3 home runs, a .500 batting average, and an incomprehensible 2.144 OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging). This comes after his second season of historic production. Barry Bonds has never been convicted or even arrested of any crime. The closest thing to a scandal that Bonds has ever been involved in, that I am aware of, was the claim during the 1994 strike that he had withheld child support while he along with the rest of the players was not getting paid.

He has had altercations with teammates, the most famous and public of which was the June 25th shoving match with Jeff Kent in the Giants' dugout. Bonds was seen as the aggressor-mostly because Kent told the press how standoffish Bonds is with teammates-, but it should be remembered that he came to the defense of David Bell, whom Kent was upbraiding for a poor throw that pulled Kent off second on a double-play ball. That event is now viewed as the turning point in the Giants' great season.

And yet Bob Klapisch writes that with all Bonds has done it's Still not enough to like. Klapisch points to the towering home run that Bonds hit in game 2 off closer Troy Percival in the ninth to bring the Giants within one. The criticism of the home run is that Bonds "didn't leave the batter's box" but "[i]nstead, he fell in love with the 485-foot home run...which, in a single frozen moment, revealed the depths of Bonds' self-absorption."

Klapisch failed to mention the frustration that Bonds must have felt having been thrown only three strikes in his five previous plate appearances, resulting in four walks (one intentional) and one impatient first-pitch groundout. Bonds finally got a pitch to hit and he destroyed it. Perhaps, he paused at home to leave an impression with the Angels' that he would not be defeated even in losing a ballgame. Perhaps, he did it because he surprised himself with the blast. Perhaps, he did it because he is an egomaniac who was enjoying his moment. Perhaps, it was a combination of the above. Whatever the reason, what difference does it make? It is not an infrequent occurrence for batters to admire their home runs at the plate today. And for the prattle by McCarver, Morgan, about how such action is demanding of some sort of repayment the next time in the box, what difference do such actions really make over the course of a game or a season?

Bonds grabs Torii Hunter in a playful bear hug after being robbed by him of a home run in the All-Star game. Bonds has brought his son with him to the game throughout the playoffs. Bonds publicly campaigned for the Giants to re-sign the selfsame Jeff Kent with whom he had been "feuding", bearing no grudges but rather trying to do what's best for the team.

Bonds is called emotionally distant when he says things like, "I just want to go to the ballpark, do my job like anyone else, go home and be with my family." When Bonds said that people still ride the bus in reference to fans returning to the ballpark if there had been a strike, he is not seen as a good union man or an honest person but rather as boorish, spoiled, and self-involved. During the series Bonds choice not to shake hands with teammates as the lineups were being announced; instead of this being part of his approach to staying focused on the game, it is seen as his insouciance in dealing with the men with whom he is going into combat.

Obviously, most if not all that we hear about Bonds is reported by a body of journalists who have made it abundantly clear that Bonds does not pay them the props they feel they are due. (Who're the self-involved ones?) They create an image of an aloof, self-loving and self-promoting egomaniac. I'm not saying that Klapisch is necessarily one of those journalists, but his and every other piece written about Bonds is tainted by the largely media-created persona of him. The talk-radio shows are peopled with the brainless disciples of such drivel.

Personally, I find it refreshing to have a player speak his mind. There are enough of the types that learned their clichés as they learned the game a la Nuke LaLoosh in Bull Durham. I find Bonds to be intelligent and introspective whenever I hear him interviewed. But then again Sir Charles Barkley has always been my favorite basketball player, too. So maybe I have an affinity for the controversial type.

It is odd that the media follows Barry around seeking a story to make fans love him (or hate him) when most other players are just assessed by what they do between the white lines. Jeff Kent for example was not widely criticized for refusing to do a TV interview after his 2-HR game 5. Some would view this as racist, that the media cannot accept the best player being African-American. I agree that there is a double standard but I prefer to think that such a high performance level on the field raises the expectation level for the character of the individual off the field. We expect that all of our celebrities and politicians be squeaky clean, the people we want to be. They are held to a higher level than we apply to our friends and family or even to ourselves. They quite often let us down. The double standard is even more pronounced when we delve into someone's psyche for watching his own home runs or for just having a seemingly dour demeanor, especially when there are other athletes who have done far worse things (the devotion to ex-con and admitted gambling addict Pete Rose is particularly curious).

It reminds me of the double standard applied to the two stars that the Phillies had when I was kid: Greg "The Bull" Luzinski and Mike Schmidt. Schmidt was obviously more talented, but Luzinski was more popular. The fans could identify more with a player with an everyman appearance like The Bull who excelled and found the talent-laden Schmidt to be cool and distant.

Love him or hate him, Bonds is one of the truly great players in the history of the game, arguably the best ever. Instead of dealing with such trivialities as does Barry appear to be happy to play on a given day, why can't we, the baseball-viewing public, just enjoy him for the immense talent that he is? Why can't that be enough for us? If you need some melodrama mixed in with your baseball, go rent The Rookie.

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World Series Game 5: Notes

[I'm sorry, that it took so long to post this. The Blogger site was down for maintenance for about three hours.]

Here is the random scribblings and bibblings that blew through the transom of my gulliver while watching the game last night (editorializations in square brackets):

Top of 1st: Erstad-[The Giants] just missed a DP by a step.
Salmon-Away [pitch 1]. Up and away [pitch 2]. Up and over the plate [3]. Up-Ball [4]. K's on change.
Anderson-goes up for a bad pitch. Punched into left-center (fastball).
Glaus-1st pitch down the middle of the plate (backwards K). Pitch 3-little chin music (Kenny Lofton would have charged). K's on high heat.

Bottom of 1st: Lofton-foul ball right into fan's glove. Drops it: Don't sign him up.
Aurila-shows bunt on ball one [Lofton at first]. Long fly-nice catch Erstad. Lofton barely makes it back [to 1st].
Kent-2 pitches right down the pike-strike called. Looks like a deer in the headlights. 2-2 pitch looked pretty good > 3-2. Walks w/o taking the bat off his shoulder. Lofton does not go on 3-2-SF afraid that Kent will K? Bonds-McCarver advocates IBB. Buck points out yesterday's situation different since man already at third-isn't that obvious? Slow fluttering fastball, pulled down the line for a double [1-0]. Santiago-SF on 1st pitch. Kent scores easily [2-0]. This could break him out. Snow-2-1 Washburn has gotten a 2-ball count on every hitter bit Santiago and Aurilia. Ball 4 in the dirt, bases loaded. Bud Black to the mound-both pitching coaches look like they could still pitch. Bell-1st pitch almost past Molina high. Ball high, 2-0. 3-0, low. Washburn can't hit anything. 4th pitch-high strike called. Ball 4 high [3-0]. Schmidt-only 2nd 0-2 count for Washburn. K's. 34-pitch 1st (21 balls) for Washburn.

Top of 2nd: Spiezio-K's on change. Kennedy -had a good game vs Schmidt game 1, moved up to 6th. Molina-Good change on strike 2. Can't lay off high heat-K's. Schmidt's got it going.

Bottom of 2nd: Lofton-Foul down 3rd-base line, pops out of Eckstein's glove, and he lands on top of tarp. Nice poke into center, Washburn shaking head. Aurilia-[Line drive] Robbed by diving catch by Erstad. 2nd time Erstad robbed him. Kent-OK, let's see if he breaks out. Why is Buck surprised Kent and Bonds don't get along-they're two egomaniacs. Double off the wall on 3-1. Lofton has to hold up. Bonds-IBB. Nice animotronic chicken doll. Santiago-Nice hit right back up the middle. Erstad overthrow hits Sanders directing Kent, 5-0. Scot Shields-up in pen. McCarver-wonders what call would be if went into dugout. [Here's the rule: 7.11 The players, coaches or any member of an offensive team shall vacate any space (including both dugouts) needed by a fielder who is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball. PENALTY: Interference shall be called and the batter or runner on whom the play is being made shall be declared out. ] Wasburn-staying in to finish [inning] since pitcher's spot due up? [6-0]

Top of 3rd:Got to have a PH for Washburn. Washburn is in? Career 5-for-14-who cares, he is getting rocked on the mound. Is Scioscia conceding? Eckstein-4-pitch walk. Erstad-needs a shave. W/o his Aurilia catches, what would the score be? Eckstein steals w/o a throw on 2-0. Pop down third/shallow left, Falls in, 1st and 3rd. Salmon-strike 1, nice fastball outside, freezes him. 2nd strike-nice low fastball with late movement. K's on outside fastball. Eckstein-in TSN Baseball Register: Hit over .300 first thee years [in minors]. Hit .246 in 199 games at PawSox and released. Signed to Edmonton, bats .346 in 15 games, and next yr starts for Angels. Still listed as 2B. Anderson-nasty change low-strike 2. 2 Balls almost get away far enough to score Eckstein.

Bottom of 3rd:Bell-Washburn still in. Deep to short, Eckstein throws-should have just help it. Weber and Donnelly on the bench look like members of DEVO [glasses reference]. Aurilia-third fly out to center, this one an easy catch for Erstad. Frau Farbissina from Austin Powers movies in a Gateway commercial

Top of 4th: Glaus-K's on high heat. 2nd K of Glaus, 6th in total for Schmidt. Buck-now jumping on the Giants bandwagon. "In every postseason series, the team w/ home field advantage has lost. The Angels have home field advantage in the World Series (Dot Dot Dot)." QED Bud Selig [in stands]-sticking his tongue out on national TV. Man he looks like Old Man Potter in It's a Winderful Life. Don Fehr-In stands, only wearing a sweater. What a man. How did the players lose to Selig? Spiezio-nice AB, works a walk. Shields-up in Anaheim BP. Hasn't pitched in 3 weeks. Why is Scioscia all of sudden so worried about overworking the bullpen? Terrell Owens-watching game. Signing autographs. Looks like he signed his shirt. On cell phone, excited to be on TV. Still on Owens. Are these guys bored with the game? Kennedy-Schmidt keeps going inside, Kennedy keeps fouling off-4 straight. Low fastball to K.

Bottom of 4th-Bonds-check-swing pop-up. First shot of Taco Bell Target. Santiago-2nd strike looks inside. HP Ump Mike Reilly inconsistent on inside strikes. Ball just foul-would have been a HR. Washburn-first 1-2-3 inning

Top of 5th:Palmeiro-PH [for pitcher] now that Washburn is settling in. Double off wall in right. McCarver and Buck-suddenly notice a game is in progress. Phil Rizzuto still telling stories about Billy Martin. Eckstein-fists a ball under Bell as he fell. Poll-"Should Giants re-sign Baker?" Salmon-hit off mound, just past Kent. Eckstein tests Lofton's arm-throw late to third [6-1]. Schmidt-is starting to tire. 22% say don't re-sign Baker, who are these idiots? Anderson-can't check on high fastball. Two weak swings on bad balls.K. Zerbe-up in pen, Schmidt due up fourth. Donnelly in Angels' pen. Glaus-2-0 hanger fouled back. Nice inside pitch, 3-2. Smells the bat on 3-2. High hanging fastball, off wall, double, 6-3. McCarver-Mentions the Leyritz game in '96 Series, Yanks came from 6 down to win. I was at that game. Says Boggs, last available position player, walked in winning run. I thought Andy Fox was on the bench? Spiezio-walks on some ugly pitches. Schmidt is gone. Zerbe in. Kennedy-why not bring in Gil? Too early?

Bottom of 5th: Donnelly [now pitching] and Molina have a conference before first pitch. That's not a good sign. Sanders-long ball just foul, like Santiago's last inning. K's. John lee Hooker-"Boom Boom" now playing. McCarver calls it Jazz-cretin. Snow-Mike Reilly (HP Ump)-calls almost same pitch twice, once a strike, once a ball. Donnelly and Molina-2nd conference. Nice pitch (splitter), moves away-K. Rodriguez-up for Giants [in BP]. Pitcher up next. Snow-getting looked at by trainer [in dugout] (fouled off his knee), might be hurt.

Top of 6th: Gil-PH, ball straight away. Lofton misplays again, can't pick it up, off glove, double. Eckstein-fouled off shin, goes to Bell. Foul ball. Good call by ump. Ground ball scores Molina, 6-4. Schoeneweis-in pen. Erstad-dribbler up first-base line. Zerbe makes a nice play to tag him and hold runner at 3rd. Zerbe gone. Salmon-Rodriguez 3-0. Wicked liner to Bell.

Bottom of 6th: Shinjo-K's on inside pitch. Reilly has been inconsistent there all night. Lofton-backs out w/o time. Called strike one. Aurilia-Liner off Glaus' glove. Finally catches a break. Kent-big AB. Schoeneweis is not up (will walk Bonds if Kent gets on). Line drive over the wall in left. Big HR, 8-4. Breaking ball didn't. Bonds-gap double. Weber-Looks shot. Santiago-IBB to get to pitcher's spot [double-switch earlier]. Obligatory Gene Clines HR recation. Dunston-in to PH-waste. Worrell is just getting ready, didn't they think about the pitcher's spot? K on inside heat-waste, esp. if Worrell not sharp.

Bottom of 7th: Taco Bell Target is sinking. Skipper! Monkeys hung in effigy. Damn dirty ape! Snow-right back at Weber, somehow he missed it and it missed him. Shields-up in pen again. Shinjo-nice bunt, falls [in box], but would still have been out. Lofton-1st ball off Molina's glove, bounces right back, Snow holds up [at 3rd]. Liner off the top of the lower tier of wall. Snow-picks up Baker's 3-year-old son standing around plate as he crosses home, 10-4. Aurilia-Shields in. K. Kent-Scot Eyre getting up in a hurry (they realize that pitcher's spot is coming up this time). Another liner to left [2nd HR], 12-4. Bonds-single past Eckstein in 2nd baseman's spot. Top 4 are 9-for-17, 2 BB, 2 HR, 10 R.

Top of 8th: Fox running a Mays-Bonds comparison, Bonds retrospective. Ready to hand Giants the hardware. Kennedy-likely last batter for Worrell (since leads off). K's. Good job by Worrell.

Bottom of 8th: Poll-Can Angels still win series? 56% say they can. I guess I'll keep watching. Angels-resting Salmon and Molina, defensive replacements. Shield still in to do mop up. Bell-bullet right back at shields. 1st and 2nd. Shnjo-grounder through Glaus (E). Snow slides around [Jose] Molina, 13-4. Aurilia-1st-pitch HR. Shields can't finish mop up? 16-4, all unearned due to error.

Postgame: Jeff Kent declines to speak to Steve Lyons [I don't blame him] after the game. If Bonds did that he'd be vilified by the press.

20-20 Hindsight: Looking back over the game notes, I am left feeling that Scioscia calculated the amount and the kind of effort from his team almost conceding the game when the Giants got a big lead. I would assume that was in an effort to prepare the team for the last two games at home. Let's see if that pays off.

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Apology Excepted, III

John Perricone over at Only Baseball Matters has the agreement reached between baseball and Pete Rose. It's an interesting read.

Especially:

Nothing in this agreement shall be deemed either an admission or a denial by Peter Edward Rose of the allegation that he bet on any Major League Baseball game.

Neither the Commissioner nor Peter Edward Rose shall be prevented by this agreement from making any public statement relating to this matter so long as no such public statement contradicts the terms of this agreement and resolution.

MLB has no legal or moral grounds here. Its official position is that there is no evidence that Rose bet on baseball.

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I'm So Bored with the U.S.A. (But What Can I Do?)

Here is an exchange between a British reader and myself. Cheers.

Isn't baseball just rounders with helmets?

I really don't know enough about it, I admit. But I have been to a game in Chicago, and to honest, I got really bored.

Kids play rounders at school in England which have the same rules, but that stops at about eleven, and they move onto a proper sport. Apols to all those fans, but have any of you even seen the rest of the worlds [sic] version? One day cricket is much more exciting. Batters don't just get 3 swings every 2 hours. They stay in until they are out just once, and thats their part in the game over. In my opinion 10 or 12 small innings dont [sic] build up any tension, (Baseball batters must just think, well I'll get another go in an hour or so, so whats the big deal if I'm out) where one innings each side means just that. In cricket, individuals in games can turn them on their own, and become major heros [sic], rather than your watered down version - One hit wonders.

I won't go on too much about your hilariously named World Series. (oh .. my sides..) Suffice to say, do you really think the rest of the worlds sport loving population really thinks naming a competion [sic] the World Series, and then playing it in the US, amongst US club teams is slightly ironic? Why isn't it the American Series or US Series? Perhaps then the major cricket playing nations (Austrailia [sic], New Zealand, England, Pakistan, India, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sri Lanka, The majority of The West Indies, even Scotland and Japan) wouldn't laugh at you quite as much. Apols, The above bracketed words may look like gobbledigook [sic] to you, but they are infact [sic] other countries in the world.

Apols for the cheap jibe.

Keep a stiff upper lip old boy. I await a suitably versed and presented rant!

Ned

My repartee:

Hi Ned

Cheers and thanks for the email. I'll choose not to respond to the perceived hubris contained therein and rather chalk it up to cultural differences. A rant but perhaps not a proper cheeky slagging off shall now ensue sans references to "bollocks" or "sticky wickets". I hope I don't cheese you off.

In fact, you are correct: baseball is the grandson of rounders. It developed during America's Revolutionary War days (apols for the reference) into kids games called town ball and cat o'nine tails and finally into base ball (yes, two words). There were two versions, "The Massachusetts Game" based on square, and "The New York Game" based an a tilted square or "diamond", which beat out its Neanderthaloid brother. Contrary to the promulgated history, early practitioners were urban middle class working men usually organized by professions who were desirous of a retreat to the country for relaxation and exercise. These men's clubs would hold opulent banquets to fete their opponents before and after games (the precedents for such actions are explained by sociologist Marvin Harris' works like "Cows, Pigs, Wars & Witches: The Riddles of Culture").

As play improved, teams started providing jobs to individuals based solely on their baseball prowess. Originally, a good deal of these men were converted cricket players who were mostly countrymen of yours. This lead to professional teams, then professional leagues, and Bob's your uncle, baseball organizations with developmental leagues, advanced scouts, amateur drafts, and the World Series.

The name "World Series" (apols to your sides) came about in 1903 to give baseball's championship a bigger-than-life title. It was not meant to offend the rest of the world but rather to express the exuberance of what was at the time a somewhat isolationist country finally entering the world stage. There was also a good deal of interest at the time at exporting the game around the globe and this was maybe a misguided means of doing so. The Chicago White Stockings toured the world a decade before playing in Egypt (with requisite team snaps on the Sphinx), England, Ireland, France, Italy, and Australia.

Anyway, that is the title and we are stuck with it. It may finally becoming a reality as players from most of central and South America, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Curacao (see we have atlases in the states too), The Philippines, and Aruba are now represented. It's not the UN, but the best players in the world are in the American major leagues. The poorer American players are jettisoned and usually wind up dominating the Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean professional leagues. Perhaps, in that sense the title "World Series" does fit.

As far as your attendant ennui in attending to a game, all I can say is that the game requires a good deal of understanding of and appreciation for its innerworkings--the battle between the batter and the pitcher, the positioning of the defense, and various strategies to gain an advantage. That cannot be conveyed in an email: it must be witnessed. I can't convince you of the game's merits. All I can do is recommend that you give it another chance (at least on the telly) and try to become more familiar with its complexities.

You mention cricket and there are a lot of parallels between the two sports. However, Americans (me included, and yes, I have witnessed cricket) find cricket to be far too long and open-ended. I have had British and Indian friends within whom I have discussed basic cricket strategy, and I find it to be much less challenging than baseball, but that is with my admittedly limited knowledge of the game. This is our basic problem with soccer or, as you would refer to it, football. I do feel that the constrictions (like limiting the number of swings, the length of an inning, not awarding 6 runs for a decent hit, etc.) implicit in baseball, of which you speak, add to the tension. Every rule change and what I'll call improvement over baseball's history has been made in an attempt to better the game.

By the way, much in the way that you describe British children outgrowing rounders and moving on to the so-called proper sports, assuming soccer would be one of those, American children move from soccer to more edifying sports such as baseball. There may be an implicit progression there but I may not be the proper person to speak to that.

Regards,

Mike

Better than an episode of Benny Hill, huh?

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World Series Game 5: Assessment

Assessment? What assessment? The Giants pummeled the Angels, 16-4. Well, let's add a bit more depth to see if it means anything for game 6 and beyond (if there is a beyond).

For the Giants, what went right? First and most importantly, they won and are now one win away from champagne time. Lofton was 3-for-6 with 3 runs and 2 RBI. Aurilia had some bad luck but was still 2-for-6 with a HR, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI. Kent had the big night: 3-for-5 with 2 HRs, 4 runs scored, 4 RBI, and a walk. He is officially out of his slump. Those three combined were 8-for-17 with 3 HRs, 9 runs, and 9 RBI. The Giants needed to get production at the top and they got it in spades. They also got production for Santiago hitting behind Bonds and lo and behold Bonds goes 3-for-4 with only one IBB. The end of the order continued to contribute. The Giants got to the Angels bullpen (Weber: 1.1 innings and 5 runs) after a rally closed the gap to 2 runs. The scored 10 runs after the 5th inning, something they were not able to do earlier in the series. The worked deep counts throughout the lineup showing patience and persistence. The bullpen only allowed one run on three hits and no walks after taking over from fatigued Jason Schmidt with two outs in the fifth. Also, with the off day the only pitcher who probably will not be ready for game 6 would be Worrell (2 innings). Nen, Witasick, and Fultz got to sit this one out and will be well rested for game 6.

What went wrong? Schmidt started strong but tired quickly and lasted only 4-2/3. The Giants needed Schmidt to last in order to save their bullpen, but the damage was minimal. The Giants bench again looked poor with Shinjo, Dunston, and Feliz going a collective 0-for-4 with a run. It doesn't make the choice of DH in game 6 any easier (or maybe it does: Goodwin against the right-hander). Snow fouled a ball off his knee and it may bother him in game 6.

What went right for the Angels? Eckstein did get on three times. Even though the starter Washburn only went four innings, their key relievers (Percival and Rodriguez) got to rest and Donnelly only went one perfect inning with two Ks. Washburn's short outing means another arm for the bullpen in game 7. They still hold the home-field advantage. They have the last two games at home. They get the DH back in the last two games.

What went wrong for the Angels? Weber gave up 5 runs in an inning and a third and looks like either he is too tired or too ineffective to pitch until probably game 7 if necessary. No one after Eckstein in the batting order collected more than one hit. The last 12 hitters went down in order.

As far as my pre-game predictions:

1) Tonight's the night Jeff Kent finally breaks out. I just have a hunch.

That one looks pretty good, huh? I thought with a lefty that had been prone to the long ball in game one. Kent did not take the bat of his shoulder and looked tentative as he drew a walk the first time up and later scored the second run on a Benito Santiago sac fly. The next time he doubles off the wall and later scores the fifth run on a Santiago 2-RBI single. The next two times he homers to left, driving in two runs each time.

2) Glaus starts getting the Bonds treatment and is walked intentionally twice.

That one looks pretty bad after he strikes out three times.

3) Francisco Rodriguez comes in again and is even wilder (only one K in two innings yesterday).

Rodriguez didn't even get into the game since it was quickly out of hand.

4) Giants win 7-3. I hope I don't jinx them.

Well, I didn't jinx them. I'm counting this as a W even though the Giants more than doubled my predicted score for them.

So I was 2-for-4 but those two were pretty good, if I do say so myself.

It's late now. I will have my game 5 notes posted tomorrow.

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World Series Game 5: Fearless Prediction

Tonight's the night Jeff Kent finally breaks out. I just have a hunch.

Glaus starts getting the Bonds treatment and is walked intentionally twice.

Francisco Rodriguez comes in again and is even wilder (only one K in two innings yesterday).

Giants win 7-3. I hope I don't jinx them.

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Apology Excepted, II

John Perricone over at Only Baseball Matters has some great points re. the Rose case including some citings from Bill James and BP's Derek Zumsteg.

He raises an especially excellent point: What were Bart Giamatti's intentions regarding Rose? Since his death his cadre of owners and execs have made the Rose ban their religion. Given that Giamatti was a baseball scholar (unlike Bud), wouldn't he have been able to have some perspective on the Rose case? As John points out circumstantial evidence says he did. So aren't Bud and the rest completely misguided in trying to continue the ban as if they were trying to "win one for the Gipper"?

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Wednes-Joe-Morgan-Chat-Day's Child Is Full of Woe

We here at Mike's Baseball Rants love Joe Morgan and we especially love Joe Morgan Chat Day. Joe answers range from sage to silly often in the course of one sentence. This week we get an early JMCD on Wednesday and we are all a-flutter.

My latest take on Joe is that he is Cartesian. No, not because he is two-dimensional. Because the famous phrase coined by Rene Descartes "Cogito ergo sum" (or for you lowly English speakers, "I think, therefore I am") sums Joe up completely. He thinks about everything. He can while away the hours conferring with the flowers. He deconstructs the world of baseball analysis and rebuilds it in based on the existence of his own private baseball God-Sparky Anderson, I think. I hyperbolically doubt it.

Like Descartes (pronounced "DES-Cart-EEEEZ-ah"), Joe believes in primary and secondary qualities in the epistemological dealings with the world or at least baseball. The primary quality of his analysis takes the form of "I know it because it's true." The secondary quality is based on "Well, stats don't tell you everything. Baseball was just better when I was a player. Take my word for it."

Joe gave us plenty to think about yesterday. Witness:

The Good-Cogito...

Lawrence Arendt (Chicago): Joe, When will baseball fix the World Series with some day games and earlier evening starts? Or don't Selig and Fox get it?

Joe Morgan: Everything has to do with ratings and trying to get the biggest audience. Prime Time on the East Coast is 8pm. It's all about trying to get the biggest audience.

[Mike: Right, they just don't realize that they are alienating the audience by doing so-Pound foolish, yudda yudda.]

Bill(CINCINNATI): Hi Joe, just curious on your thoughts of Basball letting Pete Rose take part in tonights celebration, but not allowing him to do it in Cincy..Seems hypocrytical to me...Thanks Bill

Joe Morgan: It is very hypocritical.. you are either in or out. It shouldn't be half way. Some people believe it is only because of the money involved. Tonight it is being sponsored so they are taking the money. Their was no money involved in Cincinnati.

[Mike: You go girl.]

mike (moraga, ca): joe, Ortiz was throwing pitches that sank as they crossed the plate yet the announcers kept saying he was throwing fastballs. Can a fastball have that kind of consistent movement down in the zone?

Joe Morgan: Yeah, a sinker is still a fastball. That is what it is. A sinker by definition sinks down and it is still a fastball. Some move sideways, those are cutters.

mike (moraga): joe, as a follow-up to my prior question, using your definition of a cut fastball, how do you differentiate a cutter from a slider?

Joe Morgan: A cutter has tighter spin, it rotates faster. It's rotating almost in a circle. A slider rotates from 1 to 7 on a clock, think of it that way. The cutter is actually supposed to move in circle and move across the zone slightly. The slider moves faster than curve ball because it has a tighter spin.

[Mike: This is Joe in his element. Cogito, baby! Cogito!]

Brian McElroy (Greenwich, CT): Mr. Morgan, you have been a hero to me since childhood. You never let me down as a player, a commentator, or as a role model. Still had your poster on my wall in college in 1990. You were the most complete player in history, you went back to college for your degree, and you are a credit to all athletes and a gentleman. Loved your book and learned about what you went through in Durham and at L.A.X. You are a real hero in every sense of the word. Keep up the great work. Thank you. p.s. Ever consider politcal office?

Joe Morgan: Thanks again .. I am a close friend of former President Bush and when I played for Houston he always was trying to get me involved in politics. I don't see myself as a politician. I do see myself having a responsiblity as a role model though. I have twin daughters and I have raised two older daughters. I think my responsiblity goes beyond just raising them. I want to help all kids understand their direction in life. I was taught as a kid "It takes a whole village to raise a kid". That is part of who I am and the way I was brought up.

Joe Morgan: But politics .. no.

[Mike: He is a pretty cool guy even if he can't spell "responsibility". Joe, can I chat with you and say what a great guy you are?]

James- Ft. Pierce: Joe- Can the Detroit Tigers get back to a respectful competitive club again?

Joe Morgan: The one thing that worries me about a lot of teams, not just the Tigers, it all starts at the top. By that I mean it starts at the top of the organization ... not just on the field. There is a reason some teams have continued to lose. With the right people at the top you have seen some great turnarounds.. the Angels, Twins, etc. Some teams have gone from last to worst and it all starts with the top of the franchise. That is the only way things will change. It's a filter down theory.

[Mike: Yeah, and it wouldn't kill them to take a pitch once in a while.]

Rick (lompoc, Ca): Do you think the angles can fisish this in pac bell?

Joe Morgan: If the Giants do not get a good performance from Reuter tonight, there is going to be a lot of pressure on Schmidt. But if the Giants pull it out tonight, I think they win the Series. Tonight's game is the most important one of the Series. Whoever wins the game tonight wins the Series in my mind.

[Mike: I think whoever wins the last game will win the series. No one ever agrees with me though.]

The Bad-Ergo...

Brad (Indiana): Joe, Is their a reason why the Giants have been unable to score without the home run? Can Reuter help their bullpen? Thanks and Best of Luck.

Joe Morgan: They don't have a lot of speed and are not hitting around a lot. They are depending on driving the ball, that is just how they are built. You will score a lot of runs but not consistently that way.

[Mike: Brad, how are Janet and Dr. Scott? As far as the Giant's lack of scoring, how about their not hitting? The top 3 need to get on base (like they did, at least