Hi Sars —

Sorry about the loss.I have to admit that even as I celebrated like
a crazy person last night, I thought to myself, “Aw.Sars.”

Here’s my question for Bill Simmons’s Dad (or for you, if you want to
weigh in): Why on earth — seriously, why? — would Francona put in Pedro in the
7th?All the articles that I’m reading refer to it as a “curious” or
an “interesting” choice, but none provide a rationale.And if
Francona provided one in the post-game, well, I’m in a
Houston market with no cable, so thank my local Fux affiliate for not
letting me hear it.So, any insight?

Thanks,
1918, meet 2004

Dear You Fucking Know It (yet, I’m STILL drenched in beer from Game
Six),

First off, regarding your condolences to Sars, let me say something
about Miss “Lay Down A” Bunting.Sars was the first person to graciously
express congratulations to me on the Red Sox victory, and wishing of
good luck on their chances in the World Series.I’ve never really been
one to accept congratulations from anyone on the success of my favorite
teams because, what the fuck did I have to do with it?Well, yeah, I DID
cheer louder than anyone when the Devils won the Stanley Cup in 1995.
TAKE THAT MOTOR CITY!!But Sars is top-notch, and I really DO feel
well protected when we attend Red Sox/Yankees games together.Heh.

Topic: Believe me, I asked the same question over and over again during
those 23 minutes of mango tree Pedro hell in the seventh inning.If you
don’t
believe me, check out the baseball coverage message board at TWoP.com.
Plus, I’m at Rascals all the week, so try the fucking veal.

That said, I must admit after reading Francona’s reasoning
this
morning, I don’t necessarily disagree with his reasoning anymore.Yes,
hindsight is 20-20.Understood.During the game, I was certainly
caught up
in the moment, praying that the curse of the Grady Bam-Little-Bino was
not
rearing its repugnant head.

However, I must say that at that moment I was still thinking that all
baseball being played and managed was American League baseball.That’s
what makes the World Series so far above and beyond any championship
series.The adjustments that managers have to make for a World Series
escape the common thought of regular baseball fans like myself, and
that’s why they make the big dough and why I get beer thrown at me
regularly in Yankee Stadium.

Bottom line, here’s why Fran-not to be confused with David-cona made the
decision.Schilling is working off of one ankle.In a World Series
game in
a National League park, the last thing you need for Schilling to worry
about
is an opposing pitcher knowing he’s a gimp, since the DH rule is not in
effect.
Hey ankle, meet my 92 MPH fastball (which is Matt Morris’s average).
Plus, getting any contact on the ball means RUNNING.Francona, maybe
incorrectly at that time, was already thinking ahead to the next Series,
and wanting Wakefield and Schilling to be the 1-2 pitchers at Fenway,
where the DH rule is in effect.Turns out, thankfully for Francona, he
gets what he wants.Wakefield and Schilling will pitch Games 1 and 2 at
Fenway, and Pedro, who’s batted before as both a Dodger and an Expo,
will pitch Game 3.Pedro gets some rest for his 105 lb. frame, yet
still stays warm with an inning pitched in Game 7 of the ALCS, and will
be ready to go in Game 3.Also, if the series comes back to Fenway,
he’ll have Schilling and Pedro to pitch Games 6 and 7.Have to admit,
and I haven’t been a big fan of his this season, a tip of my Miller
Lite-drenched Red Sox cap in the direction of Terry
“I’ve Been Diagnosed With” Francona.

BSD

[“I assumed some sort of promise was made to Pedro that he could come in for a couple of redemption innings.BSD’s explanation makes more sense.” — Sars]

Hi Sars,

Sorry about the other night. I’m deliriously happy right now for my
beloved Red Sox, but believe me when I say that we can empathize and
feel your pain. I was thinking that if you got rid of Kevin Brown
maybe that would improve team chemistry? He seems to be pretty
disliked among the team not to mention, um, the fans. I guess the
roster tinkering is Steinbrenner’s job though, not mine (thankfully),
so I guess we’ll see.

Oh, and I was thinking also of another great baseball movie to
recommend to “Bored in KC”: Eight Men Out, the story about how the
White Sox threw the 1919 World Series. I thought of it last night
when freakin’ Pedro came in (!?) and started giving up runs, my heart
stopped beating, et cetera.

Anyway, love your site and insightful writing up here in Maine on the
outskirts of Red Sox Nation.

Signed,
Maine Tomato Nation Fan

Dear MT,

I strongly suspect that Yankee legal affairs will find a way to dump Kevin “What Can” Brown “Do For You? (Fuck-All)” in the off season.Aaron Boone got punted for playing pick-up basketball and hurting himself (a decision I had no problem with, because he peaked with that homer), so surely there’s a way to dump Grandpa’s contract.

And if there is a way, they should use it.Brown is notoriously difficult with both press and teammates, and that wall-punching stunt is. horse. shit.The guy is a grown man, and “competitive” and “intense” are fine, but he’d already spent a chunk of time on the DL — if you’re controlled enough not to swing with your dominant hand, why aren’t you controlled enough to not swing at all?I don’t think the team needs the guy — not on a personality level, not on a contribution level, and his contract is huge.No other team is going to want him.Maneuvering his unconditional release relieves them of responsibility for his anger management issues and frees up money for decent pitching.

I didn’t love Eight Men Out; I go into the reasons for that if you click the link.

Hi Sars —

I realized that, because of the emotional games that
comprised the ALCS, people outside of St. Louis and
Houston might not realize that, indeed, there was
another series going on.It’s been just as
heartbreaking and thrilling and emotional and roller
coaster-ish as the Yankees/Red Sox games were, just
without quite so much history behind it.Or player
dramatics.

I guess my question is, just what do the Astros/Cards
have to do (or rather, what should they have done) to
get noticed among mainstream media?I fully realize
that the Yanks and Red Sox are fantastic baseball
teams; they really are some of the best of the best.
But the world does NOT revolve around them (no,
really).I checked headlines this morning and the
lead story was “Boston heads to WS; looks to break
curse.”Fine, it’s the truth: the AL finished their
series first and its champion was crowned.Nowhere
was it stated in this particular news carrier that the
NL had to go into extra innings in Game 6, no mention
that the Cards managed to hold on through it all and
push my beloved Astros to a final Game 7.

I realize I sound like a whiny child who wants
attention, but seriously.There’s other teams around.
We’re good, too!Is it just that people hate
Clemens that much that they’re boycotting the NL?

I appreciate any light you may shed on my
non-baseball-knowing ass.

Underappreciated ‘Stros fan

Dear Ouch,

Sorry about the outcome, there.And that was an outstanding series, and more than a few Yankee and Red Sox fans were annoyed that FOX wasn’t airing more of it or giving it better scheduling.

But New York City is the biggest market in the country.FOX is trying to get its ad spots in front of as many eyeballs as it can.It’s unfortunate, but it’s economics, and the same can probably be said of national news outlets trying to grab eyeballs or sell papers.I can understand how it’s irritating, but they have to lead with the most dramatic story, and as dramatic as Tavarez’s personality disorder is, it’s got nothing on a bloody sock.

But the fans knew, and made the effort to keep up on both serieses.I’ve had a bunch of good chats with folks around the city about that series.It’s on the radar.Don’t let the paucity of headlines get you down.

I just used the word “paucity.”Postseason madness, indeed.

Sars,

I am right there with ya on the double standard against Yanks fans. I know
there are a lot of obnoxious Yankee fans out there, but I’m not one of them
so to getting my face rubbed in it now I say, the hell? Also, Damon’s a
great player and if I wasn’t seething at him right now I might admit he is a
good role model, but since I am, he needs to cut that dirty mop because
damn. For role models, I say stick with Jeter, a consistent player who is
both well behaved and well groomed.

My real question is who will you root for in the series? I know Yankee fans
who are rooting for the Sox to stick with the league. I say that’s
blasphemy. Will the the Curse of the Bambino live on?

Weeping, Wailing, Beating my Breast, and Rending my Garments (But Not
Really)

Dear Yeah, Me Neither,

I’ve got to register a mild objection on “Jeter = well groomed.”I mean, he’s not a pig, but…THE HAIR, people.Couch Baron and I are totally befuddled by it — still (we were just discussing it the other day.Sarah: “I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.”CB: “Unless he took his hat off.”Sarah: “You know it’s true.”).Derek: SHAVE THAT SHIT OFF.You are too cute too look like a Q-Tip.

I don’t know who I’ll root for.On the one hand, you want the team that beat you to get their butts kicked, but on the other hand, the only team I know better than the Yankees is the Sox…and if the Sox finally win a World Series, maybe we can stop hearing about the Curse and the Babe’s bones and blah blah.Then the Sox and their fans can finally get on with their lives.Provided, of course, the city of Boston survives the cataclysmic celebration that would result.Heh.

Add to that some residual anti-Redbirds bitterness left over from my childhood as a Mets fan — and I know Vince Coleman isn’t anyone’s fault, but still — and it probably means I’m rooting for the Hose.But ambivalently.

Dear Sars.

Ouch, sorry.

I know this is a little late, but I’m less het up about it now, which is probably better for all concerned.

My team is the Mariners. When Ichiro joined them in 2001 and made such a spectacular debut, there was a whole flurry of articles disparaging him, as well as a bunch praising him too. He pretty much walks on water here in Seattle, so I’m talking about national media.

This year, with the Mariners stinking it up, he breaks Sisler’s singles record. Which, well, yay! That was exciting, and gave us something to pay attention to. “Let’s see if we can lose fewer than 100 games” just doesn’t get people interested somehow. It isn’t a home run record, it isn’t hitting .400, but it was pretty cool. But, another flurry, a bigger flurry, of “Ichiro is overrated, selfish, and who cares about singles anyway” articles. What is the deal here?

Yeah, a guy hitting singles isn’t going to win you games all by himself. So, get on Bret Boone’s $8,000,000 ass. Or Scott Spiezio’s, or or or. I happen to think it is great that a smallish person is excelling, especially during steroids madness. I also think that Ichiro does a lot more than hit singles, he’s a great fielder, fast as hell, and has a deadly arm. You might remember Torre gave him a few IBBs during the 2001 LCS, which isn’t a sign of “that little guy is no threat to us.” I know we’re in an era of power hitting, but can everyone get off the guy’s back? Sure, breaking Sisler’s record wasn’t the biggest thing ever, but I didn’t hear anyone claiming it was.

What gives, goddess of baseball?

A. Darling

Dear Ron?Is That You?Are You Still Married To That Model?,

Speaking of the Cards of my youth…for some reason, especially in the American League, “little ball” gets no respect.Bill James and his cohorts have written about this at some length, and about which type of hitter is more valuable to his team, and I 1) can’t remember the conclusion and 2) don’t have time to look up the sources, although if you have a copy of James’s Historical Baseball Abstract or Politics of Glory, you can probably find something on the subject therein.(And if you don’t have those books, get ’em.)

I will say that the sources I was reading were keeping a close eye on Ichiro!’s progress, because breaking Sisler’s record was a pretty big thing…but it didn’t get nearly the slavish attention McGwire did back in ’98.

We’ve all gotten so used to everyone hitting a ton that people tend to forget the sixties, where nobody was hitting anything and they had to lower the mount, and the eighties, where 25 dingers a year was plus power.So it’s a recent bias, in some ways, but in other ways…you know how everyone’s always saying that the reason Gwynn can’t get into the Hall is because he was a singles hitter?I don’t know if that’s true, but if it is, it’s not just him.Richie Ashburn didn’t get into the Hall for ages because he wasn’t seen as a “three-tool” hitter or whateverthe hell.But people often don’t look at the truly useful stats — how often a hitter walks vs. how often he strikes out, whether he’s making productive outs, blah.I mean, yeah, some power is nice, but who do you want in your lineup — Ichiro!, who’s going to make some shit happen, or Dave Kingman, who’s hydropowering small cities with his giant and depressingly frequent whiffs?

“But that’s not a fair comparison, because –“Yeah, yeah, I know it isn’t, but that’s precisely my point.You have to look at the runs a guy creates overall and how many potential runs he wastes doing it.One gaudy stat isn’t proof of anything, be it skill or selfishness.

[10/22/04]

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