Early baseball lessons
04/03/2002
Codding Home / Sports Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
Damn you SPORTS iN DEMAND. Damn you and your enticing seven-day free preview.
See, my wife had finally grown to accept my baseball fixation because, after ESPN's quintuple-header on Opening Day, my hardball viewing basically boils down to Tribe games on local TV (which, as a fan, she also watches), a handful of Cubs and Braves games on WGN and TBS, Saturday afternoon telecasts on Fox and, of course, Sunday and Wednesday night games on ESPN and ESPN2.
Sure, that may seem like an awful lot of baseball to some people, but my wife understands that it could be worse. Much worse.
I could have MLB Extra Innings, for example, a package offered by the fine people at SPORTS iN DEMAND that gives baseball fanatics like me access to several different telecasts on a daily basis.
MLB Extra Innings... it sounds like Hardball Heaven, doesn't it? I mean, how many times have you looked at the schedule and thought, "Now that would be a great game to watch," but because it wasn't part of your local programming you had to settle for highlights on "SportsCenter" or "Baseball Tonight" later that evening? Maybe it was Randy Johnson versus Greg Maddux, or a late-season battle between Houston and St. Louis with the division crown up for grabs. Whatever the reason, you just ached to see that game, knowing full well that you'd have to instead be content with the late-night recap.
But things would be different with a subscription to MLB Extra Innings. Chances are you'd get to see those killer pitching match-ups and pivotal division showdowns with just a little help from SPORTS iN DEMAND. I knew that. But because I enjoyed being married I never thought of actually becoming a subscriber -- my wife tolerates my baseball viewing at its currently moderate level, so why push it? Besides, I figured since I didn't really know what I was missing, not having that advanced access wouldn't really bother me.
Then the other day a friend of mine told me that our local cable provider was featuring a free MLB Extra Innings preview from April 1, which happened to be Opening Day, through the seventh.
I knew right away that I was in trouble.
For more than three days now my remote control has been glued to my right hand. The Indians opener Sunday night. Five different games on ESPN and ESPN2 Monday and Monday evening. At least three more games thanks to the free preview on Monday, and another four Tuesday along with Cleveland's game in Anaheim Tuesday night. A triple-header on ESPN today, more iN DEMAND games tomorrow... . The "last" button on my remote is worn down.
Not quite as much as my wife's patience though. We haven't been able to watch TV in the same room since last weekend because my constant channel changing drives her nuts. I can't help it, though -- the free preview will be over in just a few short days, leaving me alone once again, with only my boring, pathetic local programming to keep me company. Unless... .
Yep, even though I know the sole reason behind SPORTS iN DEMAND's generosity is to lure junkies like me into a season-long subscription, I just can't resist the opportunity to watch every player on my fantasy teams play this year. At one point on Tuesday, I had one of my pitchers on the mound in one game and two of my hitters at the plate on two other stations. I was flipping the channel after every pitch, hoping for a strikeout here, a homer here and at least a single there. You can't put a price on something that magnificent, something that brings so much utter joy into your life, so much absolute satisfaction.
Well, okay, so I guess SPORTS iN DEMAND put a price on those things, about 160 bucks for the entire season, but it's money well spent in my mind. Plus, if I act now I get a $20-off early bird bonus.
Where's my phone?
But to prove to my wife that having this glorious gift at my fingertips for six months wouldn't be a waste of money, I've decided to put all those hours of television viewing to use, hoping the phrase "but I need this for work" will loosen her up a bit.
So with that in mind, here's just a taste of what I learned while watching all these baseball games the past few days along with some of the things I didn't learn, in honor of all those people who use box scores, standings and other April statistics to project how a certain player or team is going to perform throughout the season. You know who I'm talking about -- those guys who panicked when the Yankees lost to the Orioles 10-3 on Monday, calling Roger Clemens a bum while suggesting that maybe the Yanks should trade for Scott Erickson to "shore up their struggling rotation."
Man, I hate those guys.
Monday, April 1
Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox
What happened: The Jays roughed up starter Pedro Martinez to the tune of eight runs (seven earned) in three innings of work, an outing which quite possibly could be the worst of Pedro's prestigious career. Jose Offerman, Tony Clark, Trot Nixon and Jason Varitek all hit homers for the Sox while Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez went a combined 1-8 with four strikeouts. Boston loses 12-11.
What I learned: Something's just not right with Pedro, whether it's his shoulder, the added weight or just a little early season rust following his injury-shortened 2001 campaign.
What I didn't learn: Offerman and Clark will have better years than Manny and
Nomar.
New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles
What happened: Baltimore, behind Scott Erickson's six-inning, three-hit performance, beats up on the Yanks 10-3. Starter Roger Clemens was pitching well before getting hit in the hand with a David Segui ground ball in the fourth inning. Two batters later, Clemens surrendered a grand slam to Tony Batista, giving the Orioles a 4-1 lead. New York had some chances throughout the game, including a bases-loaded situation in the fifth with Jason Giambi at the plate, but could never capitalize. On the game, Giambi, who grounded out to second in the fifth inning, went 1-4 with five men left on base.
What I learned: Even the game's greats have off days.
What I didn't learn: Giambi's a chump.
Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals
What happened: The Twins hit three homers off starter Jeff Suppan in the first two innings, and although Brad Radke got tagged for six runs in 4.1 innings of work, Minnesota held on to an 8-6 victory. Twins left fielder Jacque Jones, who led off the game with a bomb, hit another homer in the seventh inning after going deep just 14 times in 2001.
What I learned: The Royals' pitching blows.
What I didn't learn: Jacque Jones will challenge Bonds' single-season home run record.
Chicago White Sox at Seattle Mariners
What happened: The Sox beat the Mariners 6-5 thanks to an excellent outing from lefty Mark Buehrle, allowing just two hits and one run in six innings of work. The highlight of the game, though, was when Commissioner Bud Selig sat down for a chat with the Chicago broadcasters and, when asked about the current labor negotiations, said, "Each one gets more painful than the next." Um, you should have this stuff written down before you go live from now on,
Commish... .
What I learned: Selig is a 100-year-old man in desperate need of a new toupee -- he looks terrible.
What I didn't learn: The Mariners got lucky last year.
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves
What happened: With Tom Glavine filling in for the injured Greg Maddux, who sat out with a sore buttocks muscle (no joke), the Braves rolled over the Phillies 7-2. In the game Atlanta newcomers Gary Sheffield and Vinny Castilla each hit a homer and drove in three runs.
What I learned: (1) Tom Glavine is still a great pitcher. (2) Having sportscasters across the country talk about your ass has to be pretty embarrassing. Unless you're Anna Kournikova, of course.
What I didn't learn: Vinny Castilla was the best offseason acquisition in baseball.
Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds
What happened: The Reds beat Chicago 5-4 on an Aaron Boone sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. During the game, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr. each managed just one hit, both singles, while Cubs rookie Corey Patterson went 2-3 with an RBI and a steal and Reds youngster Adam Dunn went hitless in three at-bats.
What I learned: (1) Cincinnati closer Danny Graves has the best mullet in America. I mean, it looked like Billy Ray and his achy-breaky heart took the mound for the Reds in the eighth inning. (2) Even the worst teams in baseball have to win sometimes.
What I didn't learn: Sosa and Griffey are stiffs, Dunn is a bust and Patterson is on his way to Rookie of the Year honors.
San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks
What happened: Randy Johnson, who threw 128 pitches in his first start of the year, struck out eight and allowed just six hits in Arizona's 2-0 win.
What I learned: This Johnson guy is good, and apparently the phrase "pitch count" doesn't apply to him.
What I didn't learn: The D-Backs will repeat.
Tuesday, April 2
Cleveland Indians at Anaheim Angels
What happened: In a back-and-forth game, the Angels pulled ahead for good with one run in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh. C.C. Sabathia, the Cleveland starter, allowed four runs on five hits in 5.1 innings while Anaheim's Kevin Appier surrendered four runs in five innings of work.
What I learned: (1) The Indians are going to have trouble scoring runs all season. (2) Sabathia and fellow Cleveland pitcher Bartolo Colon apparently don't know what the words "offseason conditioning program" mean. (3) Anaheim reliever Ben Weber has the funkiest delivery I've ever seen, and those safety glasses of his make him look even goofier.
What I didn't learn: Darin Erstad is ready to repeat his 240-hit performance of 2000.
Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics
What happened: After losing 8-3 to Oakland the night before, Texas falls again, this time thanks to a masterful performance from Tim Hudson and a ninth-inning homer from former Rangers prospect Carlos Pena. Texas nearly pulled off the late win, though, scoring the tying run off closer Billy Koch in the top of the ninth.
What I learned: (1) Those Oakland starters are phenomenal. (2) Koch may be able to throw the ball 235 mph but he's still a terrible closer.
What I didn't learn: The Rangers are going to have trouble scoring runs all season.
San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers
What happened: Thanks to Barry Bonds and his three hits, two homers and five RBI, the Giants clobbered Kevin Brown and the Dodgers 9-2. Brown, coming off an injury-plagued season last year, lasted just four innings and allowed seven earned runs.
What I learned: Brown, now 37 years old, just may not be the same pitcher he once was.
What I didn't learn: Bonds is going to break his own homer record.
San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks
What happened: Following up Randy Johnson's complete game shutout on Opening Day, teammate Curt Schilling tossed seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts as the D-Backs cruised to a 9-0 win.
What I learned: This Schilling guy is pretty good too.
What I didn't learn: The D-Backs will repeat -- I'm still not convinced.
So there you have it, just a taste of how enriching my three-day affair with MLB Extra Innings has been. Sure, it may cost $140 for the entire season, but break that up into six months and you're looking at just $23.33 a month, not bad at all for the hours and hours of enjoyment that'll flow from your TV throughout the 2002 baseball campaign. Sounds like a deal to me... .
Think my wife will buy that?
In the Bullz-Eye
The Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards and Miami Heat. The NBA playoffs are almost here and with just a handful of games remaining on the schedule, these four teams are all fighting for the final playoff spot in the East. Miami, four games behind Indiana, who currently stands as the eighth seed, may be out of it and the Wizards, with Michael Jordan now done for the year, also are probably too far behind, leaving a two-team battle between the Raptors and Pacers, who currently are separated by just one game. Toronto and Indiana play each other twice over the final two weeks of the season, but the Raptors have a slightly easier schedule, with their remaining opponents currently sitting at a combined 50 games below .500. Also, pay attention to the dogfight in the middle of the East, where the Celtics, who right now are the third seed at 43-32, are just two games ahead of the fourth-seeded Magic (40-33) and four ahead of the seventh-seeded Milwaukee Bucks (38-35).