Baseball In The Daytime: 6-14-07
At the excellently early time of 10:10 Mountain, the San Diego Padres serve as foil to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Friars send Justin Germano out to represent their pitching staff, and this kid has been nothing short of a revelation this season. He's 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA, contributing to a staff that already includes Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux, B.F. David Wells and a rippin' bullpen.
As an aside, why do all these California teams have incredible pitching and shitty offenses? The Padres, Dodgers, Angels, A's and Giants are all loaded to some extent with arms but can't get a two-out base hit at gunpoint. Meanwhile, all the Midwestern teams are chock full o' meathead sluggers and tomato-can pitchers. It's called a trade, gentlemen. You West-Coasters hold the most precious commodity in baseball yet you refuse to deal any of it for a bat to field a balanced team. I'm off my soapbox. In news that has nothing to do with good pitching, some guy named JP Howell starts for the D'Rays, on XM 180 (no TV info available).
At 10:35, what may be the day's premier pitcher matchup goes down in Cincinnati: B.F. Bartolo Colon opposes fireballing rookie Homer Bailey. I think these guys should swap names for the day, because Homer's Colon vs. Bartolo Bailey is a cartoon matchup I would pay to see. For reals, though, the kid Bailey showed promise but not polish in his debut last weekend. He's considered one of the best prospects in baseball and the jewel of the Reds' system. Colon is best known for his love of burritos, his dazzling production of head grease, and his career full of under-the-radar efficiency. XM 188 and DTV 734 are your channels.
The eleven o'clock hour delivers the Brewers and Tigers on XM 179, with Sheets and Durbin on the bump. Also, the Diamondbacks continue to offer virgin sacrifices at the altar of Yankee Stadium. Today's lamb is Doug Davis on XM 176 and DTV 736, and the role of butcher goes to Andy Pettitte, who could forget one or more of the t's in his last name and really wouldn't be any worse off.
Noon brings us the Oakland A's and the Houston Astros, with Chad Gaudin opposing Jason Jennings. The 'Stros have been very creative in their losing this season, and yesterday's collapse saw reliever Dan Wheeler shove starter Chris Sampson after Wheeler blew Sampson's lead. Sheesh. Take this one in on XM 183 and DTV 737.
Finally, the Mariners set up shop in front of the Wrigley ivy for the last time this season, sending Jeff Weaver opposite Jason Marquis in a matchup of pathetic pitchers with Cardinals World Series rings. Watch it on WGN and imagine that Harry was alive, or listen on XM 189 and imagine that this team isn't driving Ron Santo into a shallow grave.
Update: I picked up Homer Bailey for a fantasy start today, and of course he's struggling. It's all good, though, because his pitching coach came out for a mound visit in the second. And that pitching coach is named Dick Pole. Good times.
3 comments:
Let's get one thing straight: even though the casual observer (or Sox Nation) can only recognize Vlad's name in the Los Californiheim Angels' line up , they are 2nd in hits, 3rd in batting average, and 4th in doubles and runs scored in the AL. Not too shabby for an "unbalanced" team.
That's because all you do is play the Rangers. And your statisticisms hurt my eyes.
Don't bring Texas into this! Your Nation has plenty of smut in the minor league east to beat it to as well.
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