Morning musings
Now that all six members of the Chinese women's gymnastics team at the Beijing Games were declared old enough to compete following an investigation into possible age falsification, I'd like to offer a little advice:
The next time you tell somebody your age, don't include "and a half" at the end.
And never, ever, hold out your arms, open both hands and say, "I'm THIS many!"
It raises suspicions.
Whenever I hear Tony Gwynn's voice, I keep expecting him to say, "And we're not going to fall for a banana in the tailpipe."
The Brewers are finished. I know they'll play another game tomorrow in Milwaukee, but they're finished. They lost with CC Sabathia on the mound, Ben Sheets is injured, and they're finished.
Pitching on three days' rest for the fourth consecutive start, Sabathia allowed five runs and six hits (all for extra bases), and walked four in 3 2/3 innings.
Looking to avoid elimination, the Brewers will hand the ball to Dave Bush and hope for the best. The Phillies will counter with former Oriole Jamie Moyer, whose career stats appear on the back of his AARP card.
The Cubs are finished. I know they'll play another game tomorrow in Los Angeles, but they're finished. The lost twice at home, they lost with Carlos Zambrano on the mound, and they're the Cubs, so they're finished.
The Rays must prove they can keep winning in a pressure cooker with Dan Wheeler closing out games. It worked yesterday, though not flawlessly, but it's not quite like having Papelbon or K-Rod walking through the bullpen gates. And that's the one flaw that could prove their undoing.
Or Evan Longoria will keep hitting home runs and it won't matter.
Longoria will be the American League's MVP. We just have to settle on a year.
As I watched Manny Ramirez circle the bases after another postseason home run, I was reminded once again of a classic story from his days in Cleveland. Forgive me for retelling it, but here goes:
The Indians had gathered around a clubhouse television after a game on June 17, 1994, captivated by O.J. Simpson's white Bronco slow-speed chase. Ramirez, never one to follow world events, walked in and asked what everybody was watching.
"The police are chasing O.J.," he was told.
To which Ramirez replied: "Chad Ogea's in trouble?"
Wouldn't it be fun to see Manny take it to the Sox in a World Series?
Longoria is a beast. O-Cabrera is a moron. The Cubs are actually cursed (with horrible fielding in the clutch). I hope we don't sign him. Go Moyer!!! Close it out. How did Brett Myers get good again? CC's arm has been abused-- do we want to test fate there? Sheets is already hurt. What to do? A couple of lame vets to plug in I suppose. Anything else would be shocking.
I know that Manny is mostly disliked in baseball circles, but he has always been one of my 5 favorite players of my lifetime. I think he is wildly misunderstood and that the Boston media and the Red Sox caused him to appear the way he does. No one puts in more time preparing to hit than him, and few have ever had better results. Plus he seems like a guy I would love to hang out with. Feel free to make fun, but I have always wanted to see him on the O's.
Evan Longoria better win it this or next year, cause when Matt come to Catch for Baltimore, he will be one of the best. I agree with you about Milwaukee, they are done, but the Cubs still could break out. Harden is good, and Lily has been their best pitcher over the last month. Tampa is much better than Chicago and Balfour is as good as it gets as an 8th inning guy and he can be a stopper. Wheeler will feed off of him. They really looked good last night and maybe with their 3rd best starter. Kaz will be hard to beat.
Roch:
That line about the banana in the tailpipe was not lost on me. Beverly Hills Cop references will only endear you to my heart even more. Read you every day and love the humor you maintain in this blog. Great stuff. Keep it coming. We can't get enough.
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Thanks! Wasn't sure if anyone would get that line. It might be a bit dated. - Roch
I was at the Trop yesterday and the atmosphere was absolutely electric. I asked some ushers and they said nothing compared to what they experienced yesterday. Not even close. Usually when the Trop is filled it's because half the fans there are for the other team. Not this time.
They are gonna be tough to beat at home. Even after Wise's homer they stood and cheered loudly after the next out which is more than I cans say for Cubs fans.
I agree that the Brewers are done, but they have already accomplished what I needed from them. They kept the Mets out of the playoffs. They broke my young heart in '69 and I may never get over the grudge that I have held for 39 years.
By the way, I was thinking the same thing about Tony Gwynn's voice. Here's a link to the clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flIGAP-x2YY
You get better and better!!
Dave Bush ---key to the Brewers' chances? Heaven help them.
And how about those wacky Chinese gymnasts. My daughter lettered 4 years in HS and is an avid fan of the sport. She competed against the likes of the Chinese team many times...but that was a fair fight: 7th graders against 7th graders.
I would have thought that the jig was up when they caught the parents walking their gymnasts out of Beijing Little Tykes Day Care.