And here you thought that Oklahoma has no pro teams. Nice to see the Sooners engage in some throwback '80s behaviour. Next you know they'll be wearing parachute pants and cuttling lines on the album sleeve of a Rick Springfield record. In the effort to think about anything but the Jays' implosion last night against the Yankees -- where a six-run sixth led to a 7-2 loss and set the Evil Empire to make it a three-game sweep this afternoon -- the mind is turning elsewhere:
- Time to start the Chase Utley watch. The Phillies second baseman (pictured at right) ran his hitting streak to 34 straight, getting an infield hit in his final turn at bat against the Cardinals. It was semi-halfway controversial hit. With a runner on third, Utley hit a grounder back to Cardinals pitcher Randy Flores, who turned to check the runner and then threw to first, too late to get Utley. It was initially ruled a fielder's choice. It doesn't happen often, but that is a correct ruling for when a hitter reaches safety after a fielder looks to make a play on a runner. Now Utley seems to have a certain mojo going and he's only 10 games away from tying Pete Rose's National League record. Hey, wonder if Rose has any money down on him.
- As the Red Sox pulled off another improbable ninth-inning rally last night -- which never would have happened if Cleveland manager Eric Wedge hadn't gone into a catatonic state between innings -- the lingering question was how much this team is playing on borrowed time. Not to sound sour-grapesish as yours truly's team unravels before our eyes, but the Red Sox could easily be two or three games behind the Evil Empire in the AL East race if not for these recent rallies. Last night was a pure gift -- Cleveland was one out from winning when Eric Carmona hit two batters in a row and walked Kevin Youkilis on a full count to set the table for Mark Loretta's game-winning double.
That said, those are the wins that make the difference -- between both being an also-ran like the Jays or being an underachieving $200-plus million collection of pinstripe-wearing CEOs à la the Evil Empire. - Understand that the Jays are always the team here but it's time to start finding a team to root for in the stretch drive and playoffs. San Diego is the pick in the National League -- not that they're going to make the World Series, but there's a certain appeal in cheering for a team that plays in a ballpark that Hank Aaron couldn't hit 30 homers in, might become the first team to win back-to-back division titles without ever having an 85-win season, and who is the farthest team from yours truly's home base in Ottawa.
- Ali G fans take note: Sacha Baron Cohen has a Borat movie coming out in the fall. Here's some great Borat stuff, courtesy of Eschaton. (One clip is especially topical considering what Mel Gibson's been up to.)
- Possibly the best SUNshine girl since I arrived in Ottawa.
That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.
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2 comments:
I didn't see Utley's hit last night but I heard it was questionable.
My understanding is that yes, the scorer can give a FC even when there's no out on the play -- if he believes the out would have been recorded if the fielder would have thrown straight to first base without hesitation.
So yes, it might have been dodgy.
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