Here it is...World series wrap-up!

Here we are on the last day of the year…the regular NFL season has drawn to a close…so that could only mean…. it’s time for the World Series wrap-up! This way, we’ve all had time to digest the happenings and form rational intelligent conclusions.

It’s in this frame of reference when I say…MAN THE GIANTS BLEW IT! I mean BIG TIME! They had it all but won, then handed it back like they didn’t deserve it. We’ve witnessed one of the all time chokes…on par with the Red Sox’s Bill Buckner play.

Sports competition is often based on momentum. Not always, but more often than not. The team that can finish the season on a hot streak has the opportunity to see it continue into the post season. That would help explain why the Angel’s beat the Yankees, while the A’s lost to the Twins. When Oakland was hot, nobody could beat them. If the series were played in August, the A’s would be champs. If my grandmother had balls, she’d be my grandfather.

But…I digress. Back to momentum. The series started off well enough when they split the first two games in Anaheim. The Angels winning a well played game before the Giants took a slugfest in the re-match. The Angel’s chose to pitch to Bonds and paid for it on the second pitch they threw him. The lack of dominate pitching on both teams made for an even match-up.

On to San Francisco… Anaheim realizes the folly of pitching to Bonds when the Giants don’t have the fire power to bat behind him (or for that matter, in front of him). They make it look easy in game three…perhaps this won’t be a great series afterall…Game 4 seems like a continuation of the night before. The Angel’s jump out to an early lead… when Kenny Lofton places a bunt down the 3rd base line that appears to be rolling further into foul territory when Troy Glauss bends to pick it up and it hits a pebble to send it back to fair ground just as he touches it! The proper play would be to not pick it up at all…. just kick it while it’s still foul!

A brief argument ensued…(replays on T.V. proved the right call was made)…and the inning continued. But I believe the Angels were still thinking about that play as the Giants made it count for three runs, including a clutch hit by Benito Santiago after another intentional pass to Bonds. (It was still the right call by Scoscia). The Angels go quietly into the night, as we prepare for the pivotal game 5!

Momentum stays with the Giants, as the Angels still seem unfocused. Glauss didn’t get a hit since he let that bunt go fair AND he made a key error to give the Giants some extra runs. The most memorable play was J.T. Snow saving Dusty Baker’s kid on a play at the plate. (More on that later!) The only question asked around San Francisco was, did the Giants save anything for game 6 in Anaheim two nights later?

Could they possibly ride that momentum one more night to win it all? It didn’t seem likely, till the giants opened up an early lead and expanded it to 5-0 in the 7th. Everything’s going swell, right? Till Dusty Baker makes a pitching change…instead of handing the ball to the new pitcher, he receives permission from the umpire to award the game ball to the departing pitcher, Russ Ortiz. Angel’s 1st base coach, Alfredo Griffen, spots this and comes back to the dugout to point out that the Giants have already begun celebrating the victory…. The game’s not over, but Dusty is handing out game balls!

Anyone who’s ever coached a team at any level…. including Little League and choose up, knows to never give the opposition something to get pissed about! Let them have their dignity ….at least until the game is over! Let sleeping dogs lie and all that…why give them ammunition to get themselves pumped up? They had been extremely quiet since the Lofton bunt in game 4. Dusty gave them a wake up call. Good morning Anaheim.

The Angels rallied to win it. The Giants were winning 5-0, needing 8 more outs to win the World Series. Momentum had changed sides again…courtesy of Dusty Baker. There was little doubt that the Angels would go on to win from here. After the Angels took the lead in game 7, you could see it in the various Giants body language…watch a replay if you can…. even Bonds walks up to the plate with shoulders slumped…no bravado left…It’s over, Johnny!

I’ll have more to say on Dusty Baker later (and his son)…. but I'd like to end this portion by saying that although I rooted for the Giants, I had no emotional attachments as I would have if the Yanks or A’s were playing…. it was enjoyable to watch the series like that…. not having to live & die by each pitch!

 

A Rose by any Name....Still Smells!

Bongo Johnny wrote in to say that my opinion of the Pete Rose situation was not perfectly clear. Perhaps it wasn’t. So, let me regurgitate….

Pete Rose has more hits than anyone who ever played the game. He played four different positions on some great teams. A perennial all-star, he was yearly listed among the top batting averages in baseball. Even today, when a player provides what’s now considered “something extra”, he’s compared to Rose. His admission to the Hall Of Fame is mandatory!

There are members in the Hall that wouldn’t play on the same field as a black man….until threatened with unemployment. I’ve never researched it, but I’m sure that there are numerous skeleton’s hidden in the Cooperstown closets. Do you suppose that Babe Ruth might have done a little gambling in between banging hookers? Mantle admitted to playing many games still under the influence of the binge from the night before. That could have had a larger effect on the outcome of a game than betting on your own team to win. And God forbid…what about the influence on the children! If we had known at the time, we would have drunk some beer before every game! There are those that would only permit members that lived up to the Boy Scout code. The place would be empty (and boring)!

My personal feeling is that Pete Rose is an A-hole. I’m not alone in this opinion. I asked my friend Bonnie, originally from Cincinnati to write a short memoir of her experience with Rose…

Hey guys - how r u??? Pete was a jerk! I worked in the office where the guys (Reds) would come up and sign the baseballs for all the knothole kids at the season opener. In 1969 Pete refused to sign the balls for free. He was the only one that didn't sign them that yr. Boy I wish I asked for a ball then! haha!! Johnny bench was cool - I use to issue him the basketball gym rental because he coached a basketball kids team off season, Tony Perez was there, Joe Morgan, they would all come up to our office, I issued the season permits to Johnny and hung out, flirted with the guys while we signed dozens of cases of balls!!! Boy, did I blow it!!

So there you have it. Right here on Brahma’s World…. proof that Rose at least was…an A-hole. What do you think? Contact Brahma’s World.

Bonnie’s story reminds me of stories that I heard from a member of my last softball team. He was the batboy for the New York Yankees in the early 70’s. But that’s for another time. Does that clear it up bongo?

 

This Just In...

I 've heard that the following is an excerpt from a (the?) North Korean newspaper...

[...] "The DPRK remains unfazed as it has made full preparations to cope with the confrontation and clash with the Yankees," a commentary in the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun said.
"The army and people of the DPRK with burning hatred for the Yankees are in full readiness to fight a death-defying battle," said the commentary, carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The Brahma suspects that it's actually from the Boston Herald!

 

Arron's Baseball Blog

I'm sorry it's taken so long to post on this site. I haven't forgot.....I've been busy with some medical stuff. Meanwhile, I'd like to direct you to This baseball site to keep up on the National pastime!

I'll be back soon.........SEE YA'!

 

Name of the Rose

Before I write my long overdue wrap-up on the world series, there's something else I need to discuss. It's as much a question of ethics as it is sports.

During the series, Fox broadcasting would ask various questions of the audience, to be answered on the computer. Usually, the questions refered to points of strategy concerning the game at hand. "Should Dusty change pitchers?", or "Should Scosia bunt?", etc. After the introduction of the "10 greatest moments in baseball" were announced before game 4, with Pete Rose getting the longest and loudest standing ovation, Fox asked a question of their audience about Rose and the Hall of Fame.

The question was, (and I paraphrase)... If Pete Rose would admit to betting on baseball, should he be permited entrance as a member of the H.O.F. Now, the problem was that there was NO proof that he did that, and while he admited betting illeagly, he said he didn't bet on baseball. They couldn't prove it and he wouldn't admit it, so they banned him for life.

My personal opinion is of course he belongs in the hall! it's not the Boy Scout hall of fame! Since they couldn't prove it, they wanted him to admit it. He wouldn't...he was banned. BUT... I think if he did admit to that he should be banned! Since he won't and they can't...how can he not be there?

By the way...I'm no fan of Pete Rose...a great player, but a real douche-bag...however the guy with the most hits ever has to be a member!

 

Dear Brahma...

I've recieved the following correspondence from two of our members from New York City...

From: Bongo Johnny (Original Message) Sent: 10/29/2002 4:19 PM

Dear Brahma. I don't understand that if Art Howe is so good, why can the A's let him leave in the middle of a contract and not ask for compensation as Seattle did with Piniella. You are out there. What goes on and do you think that Howe can do anything with the Mets? Let's here from ya pal.

From: Leslie. in response to Message 1 Sent: 10/30/2002 10:31 AM

That's the question Brahma... although not a Mets fan ( I don't hate them) , I do follow them from a distance. Howe has been getting somewhat negative press here -- probably cause the media wanted Sweet Lou ( lots of news. Steinbrenner stuff, firey guy, successfull everywhere. ( he even picked up one of my clients , whose a good friend,in a bar and slept with her in the 80's)

They crucified him for pitching Zito in the last reg season game to clinch home field advantage at the expense of having him go two games in the division series. I don't think that was a dumb thing when you've got the depth of starter he has. That move didn't blow it for them -- hell , they just got beat.

I see a guy who wins 100 games after lossing Giambi -- motivates his players ( it appears). Yeah Steinbrenner would get rid of him for not closing the deal and obviusly Beane is the same way. Hey they called Torre clueless joe in the NY press when he took over from Buck.

So... was there lack of respect, legitimate grips with the guys ability to win and lead??

Howe You Do...

Art Howe is a great every day manager. Imagine a team that loses it's top hitter in every catogory, (Giambi), it's lead-off hitter and great defensive CF,(Johnny Damon), and closer,(Isringhausen)...and does better! That would be the 2002 Oakland A's, and Art Howe made it work. He is a major improvement over Bobby Valentine. Although it's a lot easier with the pitching staff he had to work with!

HOWEver, it's questionable whether he carries that same confidence into the post season. Before meeting the Yankees, he was quoted saying stupid things that the Yanks could use for incentive (if it was needed). This year he went with the 3 man rotation, starting with a righty when Minn. had trouble with lefties...he overused Billy Koch the last 6 weeks of the season, making him almost ineffective.
Then he uses him again in game 5 to give up three 9th inning runs, making the 3 run bottom of the 9th moot.
That bottom of the 9th was total chaos in the A's dugout...they almost sent up the wrong guy to bat to end the game!

As for Bongo Johnny's question, asking why did Beane let him go so easily.....Howe was in place before Beane took over and from what I've read, they won't miss each other. Beane is fond of the guy he named , Ken Macha, so much so that he refused teams that wanted to interview him for that position last year.

As far as I can tell from here, he was well liked and respected by the players. But I don't know if he'll be able to handle the N.Y. press on a daily basis. Look for a meltdown around the 3rd week of August.

Thanks for writing guys....good to hear from you!
~the Brahma~

 

Game 7...The Final Frontier

Game 7's always evoke thoughts of close fought series with the inevitable tragic outcome for an otherwise deserving team. While there have been some great game 7's, (last year, for instance), the most incredible world series games in recent history were game 6's.
The Carlton Fisk 12th inning HR game vs. the Reds was a game 6, as was the Bill Buckner game vs. the Mets! I'm not saying (although I am implying..) that this year's game 6 was in that league, with it's incredible facing elimination, come from behind victory..... but game 7 was a big let-down...the Giants roll-over at least partly, if not entirely to blame.

There was enough time allowed for the Giants to set their pitching rotation to their desire. For some unknown (to me) reason, Dusty Baker chose to have Livan Hernandez pitch a possible 7th game. He did have a great post season record, so it may not be that odd a choice, although he was the 4th starter....but it was still correctable! Kirk Reuter was the only starter to last 6 innings for the Giants and could have gone on three days rest (as did Lackey).

Dusty likes to show confidence in his players (and his decisions!) and gave the start to Livan. However, as in all 7th games, he declared every pitcher besides Ortiz would be ready for service. From the opening batter, Eckstein's solid single, he should have had Reuter loosening up. When the Giants drew first blood, I thought Livan might shake it off and we might see a game....

But when Hernandez let the Angels tie it right away, his season should have been over! Certainly, there is no way he should have stayed in to give up the big double that eventually beat the Giants. Eventually?...Hell, the Giants were beat right then! You could see it in the way they carried themselves in the field and to the plate. Barry was not swaggering into the batters box his last two times up...in fact, I dare say I noticed an uncharacteristic stoop to his shoulders!

It was just a matter of time...the Angels went on to win...and deservedly so. The Giants snatched defeat from the jaws of victory...
and Dusty Baker made an unconsiousable mistake in game 6...I will leave that for my series wrap-up posting.

 

Game 6...Wha Happened?

Well, here's my re-cap of game 6....The or' d'erves were exquisite, the celebration was emotional, and the meal...fabulous! I was able to watch the first half of the game before turning on the videotape, with the faint hope that I could remain ignorant of the final outcome.
I lstened on the radio as the Giants scored 3 runs. When I arrived, Erik asked me for the latest update. I reported the good news (always a pleasure..) then requested not to be informed of any more developements in the game. As the night progressed, various people would run up to report the score. I would try to cut them off in mid-sentence by repeating my request at a higher decibal, hoping against hope. During desert, (Fantastic!..5 different cakes!) someone, somewhere, informed the immediate crowd that the game was still in progress. Oh-oh...The Giants should have wrapped it up by now!....something's going horribly wrong!


I knew I was missing a great one now. Either a great comeback in the late innings, or a "tough-it-out" Giant victory! It wasn't long after, that the hostess of the event made the announcement to us, the table full of baseball fans. I have to shorten this up now, becauce Mellissa Etheredge just finished the National Anthym! I have a lot more to say, but it will have to wait till after the game....
Well......here's hoping for a true fall classic! Game 7! This is a special treat. But....I fear the Giants have an uphill battle before it even begins.....Livan ...the Giants need the game of your life!!!! Good luck Giant fans!......

 

Oy Vey! Let's go to the Videotape!

....As luck would have it, i'm going to miss the live broadcast of game 6 due to my requested presence at the Bar Mitvah of our friends son. Flashback to Sandy Koufax sitting out his scheduled world series start to observe the Jewish holiday.

I've been reading about how the T.V. ratings for this series is dreadfully low. Apparently, people aren't interested in a great match-up if their team isn't involved. This is a cryin' shame, as it reflects how baseball has lost it's title of "the national pastime". I have watched every world series for as long as I can remember, even during times I was barely coherent. I could go all year without watching a football game, but I'm still going to watch the superbowl! How do you not watch the series? It's inconcievable to me! The world series is a special time. It is the REAL end of summer...The seasons are changing, our part of the world starting it's winter dormancy...marking the true end to our year! The harvest is ending, as we prepare for the season of celebrations. This weekend, one team will start the celebrations early!

I'll be watching the action on videotape directly after the party....providing I can avoid the inevitable big mouth that just HAS to be the first to announce the outcome while we're still at the party....If that person is reading this weblog, I didn't mean YOU...

Either way, I'll be back here between the games...or after the celebration...whichever comes first! Mazel

 

Game 5-A Pounding!

Well, game 5 is history, except in the many taverns in San Francisco like Lefty O'Doul's and Paddy O'Shea's (old haunts of the Brahma...) where folks are still recalling the slaughter witnessed tonight in this city. At least for a few more minutes until last call.

My game 4 re-cap was a little rushed, as the next game was about to start. But I want to emphesize how big I thought Glaus's mistake on Lofton's bunt was. After the pathetic showing in game 3 and the similar beginning to game 4, it was starting to look pretty bad for the Giants until that play not only opened the door for them, but gave the Angels something to distract their focus. Their offense went flat for the rest of the game. Apparently, this effect lasted through game 5 as well!

So, I was wrong in my prediction that Troy Glaus would be ready for revenge.....he still seemed distracted, striking out twice and making a BIG error to open the floodgates! He has not been the same since THAT PLAY!
As long as I'm pointing out where I was wrong, let me point out that even though I forgot to write it last time (and wasn't obligated to point it out now) I thought the Giants would win, but because of a strong game from Jason Schmidt, (it wasn't his night!) not a total slugfest.

But now as the barkeeps of Lefty's toss out the last revelers to finish the celebration by screaming "GIAAAANTS!" as they make their way home to bed and dreams of the championship......I will put in print what I think is the reality...

The Giants better go down there and finish 'em off in game 6 to win it. With Appier on the mound for the Angels, I think that it's entirely possible. But....if somehow the Angels are able to overcome what I believe is the "Appier disadvantage" and squeak out a win, they will wake up from their self impossed stupor to overwhelm the Giants in game 7 (to my dismay). Livan Hernandez is the X-factor....if he can pump it up for another BIG game.....then it's a toss-up!

Please, send me your opinions or comments! brahmasworld@hotmail.com

 

Game 4-Rings the Bell...

Game four turned into a true fall classic in the 5th inning when Kenny Lofton's bunt rolled foul right before Troy Glaus picked it up as it rolled back fair. AND, I was able to look like a baseball genius before it was all over! But let's start from the beginning.
Before the game Billy Crystal announced the "10 greatest moments in baseball", as voted by the fans. As usual, I disagreed with the average Joe Schmuck. I'm sorry, but Kirk Gibson's 9th inning HR in game 1 of the '88 series can not possibly be more important than Bill Mazeroski's 9th inning HR in game 7 in 1960 that won the championship! Or, my personal choice for #1...Bobby Thompson's "shot heard 'round the world" to wrap up the 1951 pennant play-off (when play-off games were a rare thing...) against the Dodgers. They came back from a 13 game defecit in August! Ripken's consecutive game record?....very nice...but number 1? Please. I guess the choices reflect a younger crowd with little sense of history.
On to the game. Our friend Weeb showed up in time to see the Giants load the bases in the 1st inning with 1 out, only to come up empty. When the Angel's walked Bonds intentionally to load the bases for Benito Santiago, I asked Weeb (a lifelong Giant fan and a San Francisco native) why they batted Santiago 5th, right after Bonds. I would walk Bonds to pitch to Santiago even when Benito was a pup, nevermind now! Weeb said when they put him 5th they started winning, that's why. But Santiago took an outside curveball and tried to pull it. Result; the predictable double play.

To make matters worse, The Angels scored first on a base hit by the pitcher, John Lackey, with his first major league hit! Next inning they had two more on another Troy Glaus HR. It was starting to look like a continuation of game three! When they walked Bonds to load the bases again for Santiago, I said to Weeb that I'd bat David Bell behind Bonds, instead of 8th like they have been doing, because I thought he was a clutch hitter. You can't always go by the numbers....when they get hits is more important than how many! Benito proceeded to do the exact same thing, with the exact same results as the last time!

Sometimes the game of baseball takes a turn on the smallest detail. That's what happened in the 5th inning, when the whole world wide audience watched Lofton's bunt creep down the third base line, seemingly rolling foul, but taking a sudden detour back to fair ground just as Glaus reached down to pick it up! Weeb and I both declared that was the break they needed to get back in the game. To his credit, when Bonds was passed this time to bring up Santiago, he swung at the same pitch that created two double plays earlier....but this time he didn't try to pull it, instead placing a base hit directly behind 2nd base to tie the game at 3 apiece!

It stayed that way into the 8th inning. The new Angel ace, Rodrigez was throwing darts as usual, shuting down the giant offense.
The Giants had Snow, Sanders and Bell due up. I actually said to Weeb...."If they can get a man on 2nd with one out for Bell, they'll score. As you all know by now...that's exactly what happened!

So, I've now been exposed as a baseball expert, a title I'll readily accept! Well, now let's get ready for game 5! The pre-game show is starting and I'm ready to go! I hope the Giants are as ready, because I'm sure the Angels will be. They had game 4 almost in hand
....until the fateful bunt (read mistake by Glaus!) I know he'll want retribution! I'll see you here again for the wrap up on game 5!
~the Brahma~

 

Baseball philosophy

The following is part of a correspondence I recieved from Bum's Rush:

Brush-backs, hitting a batter, while it goes against my ideals of pacifism, looking at muscle bound guys digging in at the plate, grooving their swings for a pitch slightly above the knees and no higher the the diaphram has gotten old. Raise the strike zone to the letters - that way a strike can be uncomfortably close to the batters chin. Lighten up those feet, that's what Mays said he had to do. Historically, baseball is not a sport for the muscle bound, you have to have strength, no doubt, but since Bo Jackson, baseball has been riding on great athletes rather than athletes with great skills. And for those who refuse to relinquish their style, well... I would have loved to see what Gibson or Drysdale, or any number of pitchers would have done to McQuire, or even Rickey ("I am the greatest") Henderson; McQwire planting all 6'5" ready for a grooved pitch (what would he have done with a high strike?) and Henderson swinging for the fences with that croutched up stance, waiting for a walk so that he could steal. I suspect someone would have separated his kneecap from the rest of the joint if he kept that stuff up. I miss small ball that required players to hit behind runners, the run and hit, the hit and run, bunting, pitching to spots and playing in position. The Angels do that well, and sadly, they may beat the Gigantes because of this (and that Kent chokes)

I, the Brahma, respond:

Raise the strike zone?....absolutely! Seperate the batters kneecap?...I still think that's chickenshit baseball....The batter's not supposed to "dig in" now? The pitcher takes that as a personal affront? What did the batter ever do to him...have the nerve to get a hit? The batter has no other form of retaliation! I would love to see a few bats "slip" out of their hands toward the mound. Particularly in the American League, where they hide in the dugout instead of being the target for any retribution! Yeah...that Clemons is a real tough guy!
Generally, I'd rather see a high scoring game than batters worried for their lives and livleyhoods. Besides....where are all these "grooved pitches" you speak of and why are they "grooving" them? Are they just too lazy to actually try to fool the batter?
Their only recourse is to throw at him?
Pitching inside....YES! neccesary for success! A liitle chin music? Sure..why not?
Ryne Durran would enter the game with his coke-bottle glasses, throw a couple of warm-up pitches wild to the backstop, and that was his intimidation factor. I don't recall him having a reputation for actually hitting guys.
If I'm watching two exceptional pitchers throw grat games, I love it. Particlarly when watching on T.V., where you get the best view of the strike zone. But to watch a low scoring game because the batters have much to lose, and then call that good pitching is absolute chickenshit! Great pitching is Sandy Kofax...Whitey Ford....
they never rellied on anything but their skills! I never understood why Bob Gibson took such pride in his reputation for hitting people.
Back when I started watching the game....(how old does THAT sound?)...They had a term for guys who rellied on hitting batters instead of their pitching skills....HEADHUNTERS! It was definately meant in a derogatory way!

 

Game 3 in S.F.

After two great games down in Anahiem, tonights game three was anti-climatic to say the least. We had friends over here that we don't get to see often enough. They are huge Giant fans....they came to watch the game with us and we invited them for dinner. The dinner was great but the Giants sucked. Everybody here in the Bay Area expected a win tonight, for on the mound was Livan Hernandez....a proven post season performer.
El Duque's brother didn't have the good mojo with him tonight. The Angels connected and the ball would find an alley. With the exception of another Bonds blast, the Giants best hit balls were right at someone. Their defense fully cooperated in insuring defeat.
By the time catcher, Benito Santiago, a sentimental favorite out here, muffed a sure double-play attempt the end was in sight.

On a brighter note, Andie's dinner of seafood pasta was fabulous! I just wish I could have shared the experience of a victory with great Giant fans such as Eric & Sharron. Or, at least the experience of a good game! Well, I do believe this will go all 7 games, so that would mean the next 2 games should go to the Giants.

But you should know...The Giants haven't won the series since they moved to San Francisco. I know, I know...the Angels never won it. But here in the Bay Area people are still trying to get over the 1962 loss to the Yankees! They constantly talk and write about that fateful line drive off the bat of Willie McCovey that would have won the world series, if not for the fortunate placement of Bobby Richardson at 2nd base.
To top it all off, I didn't see my friend, The Amazing Scotto, in the water outside the right field fence. But we'll keep looking as he'll be there for all three games. Look for a red kayak (there were many!), with a guy in a yellow helmet. And let's hope we can look at a better game tomorrow! I believe we will!

 

Wide World of Sports

Welcome to a new feature...The Brahma's take on sports (that he likes!).