IdahoBert

No runs in the first inning for the Tigers.

I may be mistaken, but I think every pitch that was called a ball on that walk for Parker Meadows was really a strike. Apparently, the baseball gods intervened and made the Tigers ground into a double play

We’re living in a bad time line

On MLB TV I am so tired of the rotation of the same handful of national ads interspersed with Idaho related ads that are guys with beards and ball caps talking about manly stuff they’re selling. I miss seeing Michigan related ads. In a perfect world I would like to see a slew of phony joke ads like the guys on the Comedy Central TV show Detroiters produced.

Cleveland is playing the Yankees. Do I let my usual enmity toward the Yankees rule or my practical enmity to see Cleveland be further separated from us

And there is that.

Given that we all knew this would probably happen. I don’t think this makes much difference. I also don’t know if that’s a rule or a courtesy sometimes given to not be an a-hole. There has to be some level of collegiality I suppose between managers even though they are opponents. Given the saying that the people you meet on the way up are the same people you meet on the way down there’s a practicality to things like this. Given that it’s easy for me, sitting in the cheapest seat of all in my own house, to demand a take no prisoners and burn every bridge approach, in the real world this usually comes back to bite you.

It’s supposed to be 86° with something like 60% humidity when the game begins and it’s not supposed to rain until about 10 PM. I hope this is true and I hope our bullpen day will be like last year‘s were.

A big star usually gets four at bats a game. Five guys of better than average ability will have 20 chances to do something and what’s required is not always a grand slam.

Having too many players that are good enough and not enough slots for them all is a good, though thorny, problem to have and I’m glad I’m not required to offer a solution.

This wRC+ stat is quite amazing. It demonstrates the truth contained in Garrison Keillor‘s assertion about the town of Lake Wobegon where all the players — instead of children — are above average. This really does make a difference when paired with run prevention. Yes we have hitters who are relatively speaking stars but none of them are Aaron Judge, or Ohtani etc. But further on down the lineup this above average thing pays dividends and fills in gaps that are unfilled in other clubs, even perhaps really good ones. I guess it’s a combination of choosing players capable of doing this and refining their skill set to enhance their efficacy.

I have generally repressed the memory of that 2012 World Series. It’s right up there with “The Silence“ from Doctor Who that appear within your peripheral vision and the scary clown who hid in the hallway closet when I was a kid behind the musty old coats my parents hadn’t worn in 20 years.

When I watched the weird pop-up from last night where Dingler assisted McKinstry Jason was saying there has to have never been a 2–5 in the history of baseball and Carlos in a moment, perhaps, of unguarded irony says “that’s something I could bet on.”

I’m watching the parts of the game that were especially satisfying from last night and when Jack falls face forward running to first the first base umpire breaks into spontaneous laughter. It’s sort of like watching a silent movie where someone slips on the ice and everyone laughs.

I hope you’re able to get a ticket! 😜

My Yahoo weather, which is also “weather underground“ is saying there’s a 55% chance of showers at 8 PM. I hope this doesn’t happen while Carpenter is trying to hit four home runs again.

Hey, look at me I’m an idiot. Put a dunce cap on me.

Cannon’s shoulders just slumped as Carp crushed that HR in the first. The agony of repeated defeat is not an easy thing to bear. Usually players check public demonstrations of defeat, but they’re human and can’t always rein them in. Even though we make fun of White Sox fans, there was something noble in how the faithful remnant made the pilgrimage of walking the perimeter of the ballpark before the game began. I too know what it feels like to revere a tradition and how painful it is to lose. I sure am glad we’re winning now though, and it’s our turn to win. There’s no win/win in baseball. It’s only win/lose. It’s kind of harsh but elegantly precise and definitive.

Twins will beat the Athletics, barring something amazing that probably won’t happen. So I’ve been reading it’s possible that Sawyer Gipson-Long could start tomorrow, but on tonight‘s broadcast they kept talking about Tuesday’s game as a “bullpen game.” No starting pitcher listed for either Tuesday or Wednesday right now. Anybody have a take on this?

I’ve seen those pictures so many times I just assumed they wore them a lot.

Those idiot A’s had the bases loaded with no outs and got two infield fly pop-ups, and then a ground out and did not score. Do not send boys to do a man’s job.

A precious memory of bad choices in Chicago. It’s just too bad the Tigers weren’t also at the Cleveland Indians ten-cent beer night.

The broadcasters were making that joke too. It was hard not to. It’s just short of Feiger Law changing their slogan to “all we do is lose.“

It’s amazing how one game can make a difference like that. I’ve actually been eyeing the Yankees run differential with resentment.

Yeah, he obviously wasn’t happy with it. Maybe he wants his stuff that breaks to be a ball’s width outside the strike zone instead of three or more balls width outside.