Kevin Baker's book is here!

Kevin Baker's book is here!
"... an exemplary sports book..." Kirkus Reviews

Saturday, April 16, 2016

My Favorite Inning



El Duque must be watching the same game that I am watching.  I notice that his conclusions are the same as mine, so it must seem as though I am stealing his stuff.

Have you read my new book, for example, "Boor of the Deal," the poetry of Ted Cruz?  Sorry, I digress.

The Yankees went into the bottom of the 4th with their only real shot at come-back rally:  When Castro stole second with a piece of alert base running ( get that?  A Yankee made an aggressive, smart play?), we had men on second and third and no one out.

From that point on, I sensed exactly what was about to transpire.  Didi flails ( a la A-Rod, when is is strong enough to play ) at a third strike.  The pitch was about 18 inches off the plate and in the dirt.

Then, Headley and Ellsbury ( who used to be a clutch hitter ), watched third strike calls.  Neither touched the ball.  Nor, for that matter did Didi.  And I am going to bore myself here;  Did not one of these guys ever hear a teammate, or coach, at any level, say, " if it is close ( a pitch when you are down 2 strikes ) swing at it?"

It is as if these guys were begging for a walk which, with a base open, does little to advance the cause.  Getting the bat on the ball, at least when there were no outs, or one out, has a prayer of scoring a run.  Looking angry as you make the long walk back to the dugout helps not a whit.

After that, the Yankees had no prayer.  The old, unreliable offense of 2015, is older and more unreliable now.

And as for Severino,  I watched him fail to find the strike zone, time and time again, all the while listening to the announcers tell me how great his arm was. I sensed that they were full of crap.  He had no out pitch. More tellingly, his command of the strike zone is zero.  He got sliced and diced until we were 4 or 5 runs down.  The Mariners were hitting bullets off  him.  Many right at Ellsbury or Gardy.

I am just going to say this;  I said to myself;  " Self,"  this guy is just a younger version of the Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda over-rated dorks the Yankees always develop.  He needs 98 pitches to get through the 5th inning, and leaves a 5 or 6 spot on the table for the Yankee's pathetic offense to clean up.  When he critically needs an out, he doesn't get it.

He will be 4-12, if he doesn't develop arm trouble.

You see, one of these game, the Yankees will score 14 runs and we will post a "W."  All will be well again.

 But we'll go 2-7 at home in the process.

There is nothing to watch.  So the shut-out Comcast cable viewers are better off.
Learn soccer.


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

YET, IF SEVERINO WAS PITCHING IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, HE WOULD GO 7 OR 8 INNINGS STRONG, GIVING UP 1 OR 0 RUNS (ON MOST DAYS)....CHECK IT OUT, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE. EVERYBODY, AND I MEAN EVERYBODY IS PITCHING LIGHTS OUT WITH A TON OF STRIKEOUTS IN THE NL....(HINT: IT AIN'T THE PITCHERS THAT ARE SO GOOD....80% OF THE LEAGUE CAN'T HIT)!!!

Isiyku Abdulahi said...

I really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
God bless you
I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.