der vs zer
not der & zer
Justin Verlander VS Max Scherzer
at $216M -
Wednesday September 6, TX
that’s how it shapes up/shakes down - these grizzled veterans😄⚾️
Verder, Scherlanzer, yep the ol T$216M, now 79 -
Call It Anything, that’s what Miles said in that 17 minute jam on Atlanta Pop
applies here too
Scherder, I mean Scherzer 2023
Max, 39, in the 2nd of a 3-year $130M contract - maxed out at 13-6, 3.77, 152 IP
‘lander, just-in time, 40 - 2023, 1st of 2 year $86M deal - 12-8, 3.32, 157 IP
remarks, for what they’re getting paid this isn’t much, not much at all
realize few starting Ps get the decision any more - still in all…..
no Sept 6 didn’t live up to its advance billing - however there could be a postseason reprise, let’s hope, Seattle is dropping fast
Sox fans know that feeling - wait til next year
Few were ever greater, Any Position
now he’s in that great memorial stadium of immortals a happy ballplayer - his O’s are now tops - “as great as our ballclubs in ‘66, & ‘69-70…” he’s sayin
hope O’s go all the way for Brooks this year
RIP, Brooks Robinson
He’s in the company of legends - #511 ties him w/Giants great Mel Ott, & #512 will bring the house down tying him w/Ernie Banks & Eddie Matthews
Miggy, wattaguy - the ballclub is on a W4, has overtaken Tribe & now there’s something to play for as Det & ‘dians go into their own year-end mini-WS of sorts to see who honors one of these two greats w/the best record in their final year(s)
that’s right - 2
Tito
great to see the standing O for Terry last night, Sox fans feel the same way - a feel-good finale at Tygiz stadium this wknd, also at Busch Stadium w/Wainwright & Votto
Well wishes out to Wake, it’s probly nothing but he still wanted it kept under wraps
Just terribly sad news about Tim Wakefield - Sox fans, Bucs fans, all fans are saddened - what a moment at Wake’s retirement fete at Fenway when he & Doug Mirabelli reprised Doug’s arrival in a Boston police cruiser to Fenway, In A Sox Uniform, after Doug had been traded back to the Sox, & literally got from the airport to the police cruiser to the dugout in time to don the equipment & catch Wake
200 career wins
RIP, Tim Wakefield
-
RIP, Russ Francis - Pats fans & Steve Grogan know how good the big TE was…..sad to hear
Verder, Scherlanzer, yep the ol T$216M
no Sept 6 didn’t live up to its advance billing - however there could be a postseason reprise
Houston, Texas, yes
but Scher, Ver, doubtful
Max hasn’t pitched in a month, his last outing was Sept 12, then his shoulder apparently gave out….status uncertain/he’s rehabbing/might return if they make WS yadadadada…..hasn’t been ruled out for Hou series - his shoulder has gotta be in a bad way to miss the stretch run & postseason
normally am not shocked when regular-season king****s crap out in playoffs
but didn’t think that’d happen w/hot lanta - not w/their pitching/top of order etc - obviously it’s not over yet - Phils have played well
If it’s those top 4 teams in league finals - LA-Braves in NL, Balt-TB in AL - that will be the real WS imo
envision same thing as last year for Dodgiz tho - great season, early-exit playoff ouster - they did great w/out Walker B this year, but now no Urias, leaving too much pressure on Clayton to be able to be at his best
none of them made the league finals, so it just goes to show how meaningless these mini playoffs are -
what is more important, the season, or an appended 2 of 3 playoff series - which is the better indicator of a ballclub, 162 games or 3-4 games…..
many say the postseason shows a squad’s true colors & what it is really made of
….couldn’t disagree more, too much room for dumb luck to determine the outcome (as we’ve seen) - but agree it’s cool having 4 ‘upstarts’ there
Nothing wrong w/a rematch - if so I’d have to pick Phil - Hou clearly had the better 6 games in last year’s WS - this year, (it’d be) Phils turn imo - they’re definitely going
deadlocked at 90-72, Hou home-field advntg - should be a fun ALCS battle for state rights - Eovaldi is 12-5, Perez 10-4, someone else is 10-6, if Aroldis Chapman ever got going…
later update, yep, sure, I mean scher retur fer sure - he’s apparently going to go his 5-6 IP (a la) max next week - this imo could tip it to TX - realize Hou chased Max early Sept 6
series is virtually all but certain to go 7 games - envision TX as the lone star when it’s over✌️⚾️
There it is - as they get ready to watch the game, Cowboys fans sit secure for sure-zer
bball team returns w/2-0 lead & every reason to believe it’ll go to 3-0 en route to ouster of 2022 WS winners, the AL pennant & the state title
yep - Max has pronounced himself fit & is pitching Wed - if he has his stuff & the crowd gets into it…..champs will have to act now & it’ll likely be too late
….especially if he wants to stay in there - lifting a P at his max game, ESP postseason, while this HOF hurler is mowing em down w/regularity…..😠
….the old geezer will be motivated like never b4 in his long career - he caught a big break landing there outta NY, just like Vder did in Hou - yep, at 39, Max has something to prove Wed - the crowd Just Might have his back⚾️
justin was solid not spectacular last night
It was fun following that nonpariel tandem this year - 2024 is the final year of their $216 million contracts, so likely to be their final seasons - will be interesting to see where they end up -
heck they might just be enshrined at Cooperstown as a tandem, tho I don’t necessarily see them as 1st ballot HOFers
They’re Handing The Ball To Max Tonite - last 2 times vs Hou (Sept 6 & Oct 18), a combined 7 IP, 11 runs, 13 hits…..
if he turns it around to the max tonite, it’d be the 1st time crowd filed out disappointed after every game of a series that went 7 games (just surmising this)
Jacob deGrom
they certainly haven’t missed him - he’ll be back midsummer 2024 - monster contract, monster ? mark, iffy health, will be 36
wait til next year
Wow - yet another aging P trying to get healthy - former AZ hero Ian Kennedy, 38, now on TX’s IL where he’s been most of the year -
average his whole career, except for 2011 in the Phoenix sun - amazingly inexplicably morphed into a terrifying hybrid of Randy Johnson & Curt Schilling in going 21-4 for D-backs -
making him among the last of the 20 game winners - Spencer this year (20-5) was only the 5th-6th or so to attain it since
so Ian is among that first wave of pitchers in new-millennium modern-day baseball, along w/guys like Greinke, Bartolo Colon, Stephen, Wainwright, King Felix, deGrom, T$216M, to pitch under the new system of restricted innings/pitch counts
yep, in Ian’s 17 years in the big leagues, all of 2 complete games - has pitched sparingly over last several seasons - career record 104-114
2 of the greatest in their sports, Dusty Baker & Doc Rivers
Dusty, 74, 26 years managing after a 19 year playing career
Doc, 62, 25 years coaching after a 14 year playing career - real similar in his greatness to Lenny Wilkins in their playing/coaching careers - both great guards, both became top coaches etc
but Dusty & Doc - parallel careers of greatness over the decades on the field/court, then in dugout/on bench
—
it’s not just Thanasis - now Robin Lopez has showed up, making Mil the only team w/2 sets of siblings
yep, sure, I mean scher retur for sure-zer - They’re Handing The Ball To Max Tonight - the old geezer will be motivated like never b4
motivation & all, Max couldn’t get em out his last few starts - now it’s one more year on his max contract
after his body broke down like that in crunch time after not pitching much this year, can’t imagine who’d wanna take on that contract next year, but this is MLB
Mayb he’ll stay in TX, so that when Jacob deG returned, that would break tandem verlanzer record of $216M, & for less return too - he’s had a great career
guessing AZ wins its 2023 home finale tonight for its fans
Stephen
113-62, 3.24 ERA, 1,700+ Ks
in hurling, he has few peers
106-54
that’s the more accurate W-L # for Stephen - after all he was only a combined 6-4 his first 2 years, then all of 1-4 over his last 3 seasons
so his 8-year run of 106-54 made him the pre-eminent P from 2012-19, even w/all the injuries
a career/,w/#s, like no one else - his fans should always talk up Stephen - the ballclub took more than good care of him w/that ginormous contract after his 2019 campaign
Halos Hire Ron Washington - 5th manager in 7 years - LA is going from Joe Maddon to a first-time manager, Nevin - now to a 71 year old who hasn’t managed since 2014
he’ll have his assistants to delegate to - it’s also Shohei’s & Trout’s team - interesting hybrid approach - could work out great for them, esp if Shohei stays
we’re staying w/Alex despite twin 78-84 last-place finishes in 2022-23 - Sox Fans Applaud This - there’s more to it than just one person, mgr or not
wait til next year
Lee, “‘chick ‘n ‘vich”?
its right there w/der, ver & scherlanzer, don’t ya think?😃😆👍 - thx, glad you like oh wait🥱🥱 ….just a ton of fun here😃😀😃😀 ‘:lol:’ -
but it’s true - how will Ron Washington fare given the mixed-at-best results of the LaRussa experiment
they’ll be asking the same age-old ?s next fall if it’s the same tired old pap from the media & aging/retread easily-confused candidates Trump & Biden
quietly, some Pats & Spurs fans are asking it right now re Belichick & Popovich - ‘chick 71, ‘vich 74
who will step down 1st - will one or both be asked to step down - how much of their slow starts can be blamed on them - have the games possibly passed by these 2 greats, career leaders in their sports
….& so forth
The Babe dropped pitching when he went to NY, & the rest was history
guessing Shohei’s next team will make the same request - he’s at the same point in his career that the Babe was when he, Ruth, left Boston & pitching behind - P/OFs for 1st 6 years of their careers, then new teams & just hitting
that’s the pattern so far - will relinquish pitching in 2024, says he’ll resume it in 2025
I ? if this will occur - if he goes crazy w/the bat next year, it’ll be hard to give that up to return to pitching - the Babe didn’t
if Shohei stays healthy, has 40+ HR w/120 RBI & say a .290 or so BA in 2024
….he won’t pitch in 2025, citing the Babe’s career as precedence
so they’ll have to think about that during salary negotiations this winter
P/OFs for 1st 6 years of their careers, then new teams & just hitting
if he goes crazy w/the bat next year, it’ll be hard to give that up to return to pitching - the Babe didn’t
if Shohei stays healthy, has 40+ HR w/120 RBI & say a .290 or so BA in 2024
….he won’t pitch in 2025, citing the Babe’s career as precedence
so they’ll have to think about that during salary negotiations this winter
on 2nd thought, ‘precedence’ may not really apply here since the game is so different today from the Babe’s day
a century’s divide shows that
41 HR? 130 RBI??
to go w/a .393 BA???
yep, that was the Bambino in 1923….
>Shohei had his best year in 2023 - topped .300 for 1st time
to go w/44 HR, 95 RBI, & for good measure, 20 SB w/only 6 CS
oh,the mound,tani
merely 10-5, 3.14 ERA - coming off his Cy Young-worthy 15-9, 2.33 of 2022
he’s the greatest talent to come into MLB in who knows how long
he’ll just DH in 2024 - word is, LAD has inside track in high-level salary negotiations
they’re just trying to build a fielding component into the contract as Dave Roberts might ask Shohei to grab his glove & play 1B or RF in a pinch
…so that Shohei would get another few mil for say 15 field appearances
….in short, on the court, LA Lakers had “Showtime” in the 1980s
….on the field, LA Dodgiz could have their own “Sho-time” in the 2020s
no matter where he lands however, no one should expect Shohei Ohtani to do in 2024, what Babe Ruth did in 1924
.378, 46HR, 124RBI -
so again, the century’s divide calls attention to the greatness of the Sultan of Swat
& makes fans appreciate Ohtani’s greatness that much more - the comparisons to Geo. H. Ruth are deserved
depending on who he signs with, hoping Shohei is ruthless on pitchers w/a Ruthian year in store ‘24, he was tremendee in ‘23
Sawx
Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani will command the first billion dollar contracts
Shohei ended up at $700M - his deal is weird - it comes w/a no-injury clause -
they couldn’t come to terms on where/how much he’d take the field, ie player injury vs being penciled in etc
so instead, he contracts for an injury-free season at DH - an injury-free position
….but still doing the same fielding drills he’s done all along in practice, to stay fit for filling in on an emergency basis if need be, in the event of player injury etc
10 years, $700M
& all ya gotta do is swing the bat
its one thing to give up pitching, but to forego fielding too….
but can still understand why people think LAD is a lock now - they have been the last 2 regular seasons
again - if Shohei tears the cover off the ball in a slump-free 2024 - wager no return to mound, or field, in 2025 & probly thereafter - just like the Babe (of course Ruth played OF)
guessing Dave’ll pencil him in for an occasional fielding stint - he’d have to go through Shohei or his agent to do so
wait til next year
Pitchers & catchers report next month, & yes LA is the consensus shoo in for 2024
dont tell the champs that tho
Midsummer Arrival
crafty mgr Bruce Bochy figures if he can keep the team w/in striking distance
….waiting in the wings come June-July
….A $330 Million Tandem
when Jacob deGrom, 35, & Max Scherzer, 39, return from surgery -
in tandem w/Nathan Eovaldi & the rest they’ll never lose & a WS rematch, inevitable😮🥱
Max in the final of his 3 year $145M contract - Jacob in the second of a 5-year $185M deal
so that’ll give LA something to think about, you know they’ll be impressed by the money “you mean someone outspent us??!”
however, Max couldn’t complete the 2023 season, how will he hold up in the last half-season of a fine career
he worked the first half of 2023 in tandem w/Verlanzer, mixed results
now he’ll work the last half of 2024 in tandem w/the Gromster - both rehabbed rejuvenated rusty but well rested yadadadada
….& Both Five Innings Max, Even If Going Good
Jacob? no telling - like all hi$ peer$, many health woe$, much mi$$ed time
make no mistake about it tho - it’s Sox all the way this year ⚾️
had thought he was retiring at the conclusion of his 10 year $225M contract, which is this year -
but even though he’s been in decline & injured often in recent years, he says he is planning to return next year -
it has to be tough retiring from a game you’ve played your whole life - many aging greats do denial, Joey, 40, is certainly no different in that regard
it was nice of the Blue Jays to sign him to a minor league contract - he’s from Toronto & maybe, once he recovers from injuries, he’ll make the big club - seems doubtful tho
Reds Sens & Cahds gotta give up big love with a day for Joey, Stephen, & Adam W - all retired in 2023 from the only teams they ever played for - Tygiz gave red carpet treatment to Miggy at 2023 final series iirc
it was nice of the Blue Jays to sign him to a minor league contract - he’s from Toronto & maybe, once he recovers from injuries, he’ll make the big club - seems doubtful tho
the schedule doesn’t lie - Phila this week, NY this wknd - 🔥Aaron Judge, lighting it up
in the battle of billionaires, Judge .305, 24HR, 59 RBI - Ohtani .310, 15/41 - by contrast, forgotten millionaire Giancarlo hitting only .224 but w/15 HR, 36 RBI
…we’re not setting the world on fire so far but if we can just win these series it’ll prove that we can beat the best out there
yep look at Chris go (8-2, hard-luck 2-1 loss last outing) - no lanky lefty contest this year
but yes, re quote, joey is in a unique place - apparently still in Tor’s minor league system, hasn’t played, no timeline for return to field etc & so forth - semi-retired
starting tonite, we’re lookin to break outta that cluster in the AL East by the AS break
finally, AS game will be overshadowed by that weekends RNC in Milwaukee
thats jumping topics, but abandoned here so no one to take offense🥱 ⚾️
Conforto & Correa aren’t just below the Mendoza line, they’re off it altogether
little has changed
Michael slowly coming around, .236, 12 HR, 42 RBI - he got a sweetheart of a deal from SF - a career .255 hitter, $36M
Carlos, .217, 11 HR, 37 RBI - frequently injured, he nonetheless got a 6 year $200M contract with easy incentives to push it to $270M
same thing, little has changed for these 2 fabulously wealthy ballplayers
wait - suddenly, quietly, Carlos Correa is having a great year for Twins - .317, 8/35
same ol for Conforto, .232, 8/22
-
uh oh - look out
battiz are quackin’ in their cleats
Mad Max Returns Saturday
hi$ teammate, (the forgotten) Jacob deGrom, 36 today - happy birthday Jacob - $tatus, “still no timetable for return to field”
Jacob had ground up reconstructive surgery - that’s why he’s been inactive for so long
his right arm is apparently little-different from Robocop’s now
even w/all that, highly unlikely to attain previous form - all this, on a max iron-clad fully-guaranteed $185M contract
among the many free agent Busts, this one is up there
Justin, 41 - like Scherzer in (likely) his final season - 3-2, 3.95, currently injured
let’s go Sox
The Say Hey Kid - at the top along w/Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson & Roberto Clemente
…Mickey Mantle, then Willie McCovey & Cahl Yastrzemski a tier below as the ahguments & triv could’ve gone/sometimes did go, all night long
Willie Mays was the greatest in an era of greats - so great that he lived long enough to see Negro League records officially recognized - that’s where he had his start
RIP Willie Mays
Farewell to the Say Hey Kid. I personally try to refrain from terms like, "greatest of all time..." - whether we're talking sports or guitar players. Willie Mays was and IS worthy of every adjective of praise. Certainly on the starting line-up of any all-star-of all-time team. So glad that I actually saw him play on several occasions. If there's a silver lining to getting old it is the fact that I saw Willie, Hank, and so many others - including most of the musical/guitar God acts of the 60s and 70s. What a show! Now, please pass the Aleve.
True, just fun to name all the greats - for xmpl why shouldn’t ChaCha, SF Giants great Orlando Cepeda, our very 1st DH in 1973 - why shouldn’t he be included in the lower tier
or Harmon Killebrew, another feared slugger who hit for average - heck one could make the point for him in the upper tier
>Willie Stargell, Mike Schmidt, Reggie Jackson….then onto Bonds, Sosa, McGuire, A-Rod, Palmiero….feared sluggers one & all
but Willie - at the top - of his era, mayb any era
⚾️let’s go Sox
Willie Mays went to his grave secure in the knowledge that Negro League records would forever have the same respect/reverence/recognition as those of white players
so glad I mentioned Orlando - he was solid for us, .289, 20/86 - our first DH, his last full year in MLB - retired the next season after a cup of coffee w/KC
Sox fans felt lucky having those 2 SF greats, ChaCha & Juan Marichal, in the twilight of their careers
RIP Orlando Cepeda, the great Baby Bull
can’t have the previous SF entry w/no mention of Stretch - esp on this date
like Yaz, his lower-tier cohort, Willie McCovey’s last good year was 1977 - .280, 28HR 86 RBI (Cahl .296, 28/102)
few know that Willie went across the bay for a cup of coffee w/A’s - “yep it landed right about here,” he said jokingly about his HR that he hit off Warren Spahn that launched like a rocket
from across the bay in Candlestick Park
last seen, headed toward Oakland
on July 2, 1963
the greatest P matchup ever
SF rookie Juan Marichal vs all time lefty Warren Spahn
16 shutout innings each - then who else, Willie Mays, walkoff HR bottom 16th, the 2nd of the game
after Willie McCovey’s previously mentioned moonshot HR bottom nine, that the umpires called foul in a grievously blown call
in retirement he called it among the longest ball he ever hit
hard to believe it was 61 years ago tonite
but all those great SF Giants - WillieMac in Oakland - then Orlando Cepeda in KC
….& yep, Marichal w/his own end-of-career cup of coffee w/…. Dodgers, & it woulda been sacrilege - Juan Marichal toeing the rubber in Candlestick Park
in a Dodgers uniform
heck even the Say Hey Kid himself - left SF to finish career where it began, in NY
in short, let’s go Sox
we’ve won 14 of 19, they’ve lost 13 of 17 & at the pivotal holiday-wknd midway point……literally b4 you can say Steve Pearce we’re only 5.5 GB & poised to be back in it by the AS break
it’d be a turnaround almost to match 1978, when they came from way behind against us culminating in the infamous “Boston Massacre” at Fenway Pahk
…..every trip to the zoo is critical, this one Really is now, how we roll Sawx, wattateam
happy birthday Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty & America - baseball is as American as hot dogs & apple pie & the bombs bursting in air over the Bronx this wknd will only be off Sox bats
it was nice of the Blue Jays to sign him to a minor league contract - he’s from Toronto & maybe, once he recovers from injuries, he’ll make the big club - seems doubtful tho
mayb not so doubtful
he’s back on the field as of this week
not only that but in his 1st 2 ‘rehab’ games, total of 3 hits, 2 RBI
…..& yep, a stolen base for Joey Votto, 40, for Dunedin, Tor’s single A affiliate
Tor is going nowhere - guessing they’ll call up Joey for a few late-Sept feel-good farewell games for his hometown Tor fans - not unlike last Sept in Cincinnati
….so what, this Sunday night game will bust the previous espn June-16 season high for fans watching on TV
….we won that game 9-3 & the series 2-1 at Fenway
it’s Gottabe 1-1 At Least going into this Sunday night in the house that Geo. (Ruth) Steinbrenner built⚾️
There's a rumour Bo Bichette of the Jays is angry and wants out. One of the best hitters last year but hasn't done diddley squat. Was thinking of Al Cicotte recently, bless him, if anyone remembers him, died around fifty. One of the best pitchers from the International League. One of those star guys who were doing so well, like Rocky Nelson and Frank Funk, who had trouble getting called to the bigs and didn't do so good once they got there. Frank Funk is still kicking anyway. Was the pitcher on the first game that I ever saw on tv.
