tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7351920963591655061..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: My thoughts on the World SeriesBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19413972208683444672011-11-04T21:15:08.022-07:002011-11-04T21:15:08.022-07:00Nice piece, but you are wrong about football seaso...Nice piece, but you are wrong about football season totally eclipsing baseball nowadays in Dallas. Sigh. You can thank Jerry Jones for that. Get a rope.HogsAteMySisterhttp://hogsatemysister.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75259227739465255322011-11-03T15:49:05.003-07:002011-11-03T15:49:05.003-07:00Game six was the greatest series game I"ve ev...Game six was the greatest series game I"ve ever seen. <br /><br />Search for Roger Angell's scorecard of the game--it will make you happy!Thom Braynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28831832421897255962011-11-01T22:29:19.119-07:002011-11-01T22:29:19.119-07:00>>>Miller really "blew" that na...>>>Miller really "blew" that national gig. He only had it for 21 seasons and got into the broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame.<<<<br /><br />Yes, he blew it. He had it and they removed his large ego and put someone else on the job. Miller used to be good. He's not now. He's too wrapped up in himself. The Hall of Fame award, with few exceptions, has become a longevity award. Do you actually think Milo Hamilton (1992 winner) is good?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32952023915889253842011-10-30T19:19:23.683-07:002011-10-30T19:19:23.683-07:00Clearly Ron Washington is an excellent manager, bu...Clearly Ron Washington is an excellent manager, but his cheerleading after every Texas hit gets a little tiresome. Fox keeps the camera on him as if he's going to take off his cap and have a bird fly out. This is the World Series. As Paul Brown used to tell his players, "When you get to the end zone, act like you've been there before."Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40184601520807353172011-10-30T12:35:29.270-07:002011-10-30T12:35:29.270-07:00My fellow anonymous commenter, the one who idiotic...My fellow anonymous commenter, the one who idiotically suggested that Jon Miller was a self-important gasbag, clearly exists solely for the purpose of being completely and unequivocally wrong about everything. In this regard, he actually does serve a purpose---I would imagine in his day to day life, he is an invaluable resource for those unfortunate enough to interact with him. They need only ask this silly tit where he stands on a particular issue, recognize that stance as being clearly a sign of jaw-dropping idiocy, and instantly they know which side of the fence they ought to be on....the other side, obviously. This tool says white? You can be safely assured that black is the correct answer. <br /><br />Dissing Jon Miller...Jesus wept. Not since Neville Chamberlain stepped off a plane waving a piece of paper and declaring that there would be peace in our time has anyone been as utterly and comprehensively wrong as you are now. Tell me: what color is the sky in your world?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79124049139035285742011-10-30T08:46:17.200-07:002011-10-30T08:46:17.200-07:00Anonymous, kind of interesting that you don't ...Anonymous, kind of interesting that you don't sign your name. Miller really "blew" that national gig. He only had it for 21 seasons and got into the broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40936899967910969722011-10-30T02:46:35.118-07:002011-10-30T02:46:35.118-07:00Get over Jon Miller. He's a self-absorbed gasb...Get over Jon Miller. He's a self-absorbed gasbag who thinks he's more important than the game, and he blew the national gigs because of that. He's working in San Francisco, the only place where people applaud Barry Bonds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44135851491996386092011-10-29T23:51:37.383-07:002011-10-29T23:51:37.383-07:00"At least for the Rangers there was no one Bi..."At least for the Rangers there was no one Bill Buckner."<br /><br />I'd argue that it was Nelson Cruz. I'm surprised that more fuss hasn't been made about Cruz half-assing and completely botching a fly ball that any halfway competent outfielder would have put in his back pocket, especially given that he was already playing as a deep as I'd ever seen an outfielder play. If Ron Washington puts Esteban German in for the 9th instead of the 10th, there would have been one hell of a parade in Arlington come tomorrow.<br /><br />And, man, if you have to rely on Darren Oliver to close out a World Series, you've seriously overused your bullpen. All Oliver had to do was retire two scrubs and a pitcher, and well, you know the rest.<br /><br />Oh, and best wishes to the ghost of Fred Merkle. Poor kid, ran to the clubhouse instead of second base, like every other batter did in that situtation from the 1880's on.Wallis Lanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57454086765379229002011-10-29T22:58:08.736-07:002011-10-29T22:58:08.736-07:00Despite the sandlot play and the big choke by Texa...Despite the sandlot play and the big choke by Texas, I enjoyed the series more than I thought I would. But... <br />...Am I the only one who wanted to throw a brick at my TV every time Tim McCarver opened his mouth? He's the living embodiment of the word "fatuous."Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14327923609890200322011-10-29T20:15:11.269-07:002011-10-29T20:15:11.269-07:00When you think about it, the World Series is like ...When you think about it, the World Series is like the World Series of Poker of baseball.Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44676210499084322582011-10-29T16:27:52.021-07:002011-10-29T16:27:52.021-07:00PS On this very blog I predicted the Cards in 7 an...PS On this very blog I predicted the Cards in 7 and for the very first time in my life I was right.Suenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65760983800980891322011-10-29T15:27:29.355-07:002011-10-29T15:27:29.355-07:00Great post ken! Love all the comments too. As for ...Great post ken! Love all the comments too. As for game 6 it was the worst of games and the best of games all in one. I watched all 4 hours and 33 minutes of it. That is what baseball is all about, their up, their down, an incredible catch is made, a very catchable ball is not caught, the ump misses a call and then the other team gets a bad call, and why in the world did what's his name decide to steal a base when it was so easy to tag him out??? Gotta love it. Now it is the black hole of Football until February. Ugh!! Although after all the trading that will most likely happen it will be interesting to see who will be in what uniform in April.Suenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72754039933728750542011-10-29T14:34:36.217-07:002011-10-29T14:34:36.217-07:00By the way, Fred Merkle was widely considered one ...By the way, Fred Merkle was widely considered one of the smartest players in baseball in his time, and John McGraw, his manager for many years, including when he was the rookie who made the bonehead play, would ask for his opinions. That's John McGraw, who used to punch umpires and wasn't thrown out of baseball for it, but instead the umpires were fired.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51545250860906041302011-10-29T14:30:47.069-07:002011-10-29T14:30:47.069-07:00And don’t tell me 1911 because I was at most of th...<i>And don’t tell me 1911 because I was at most of those games</i><br />Really? You're over 100 years old? Sounding pretty spry, I must say.The Merryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660495393832517684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84518328067093378972011-10-29T14:25:12.266-07:002011-10-29T14:25:12.266-07:00"Will folks lay off poor Fred Merkle..."...<i>"Will folks lay off poor Fred Merkle..."</i><br /><br />Too soon?Dan Tedsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452847576600692673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25390798683014398902011-10-29T14:08:38.960-07:002011-10-29T14:08:38.960-07:001. You don't put the champagne tarp up before ...1. You don't put the champagne tarp up before the game is won. <br />2. Forget kids. *I* can't stay up on a weeknight until after midnight. I do so wish the games could start earlier.<br />3. Will folks lay off poor <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/merklfr01.shtml" rel="nofollow">Fred Merkle</a>, who had a solid career, but made one blunder that defined him for others.Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88617558450372298992011-10-29T13:22:43.856-07:002011-10-29T13:22:43.856-07:00I also feel for the poor clubhouse attendants in t...<i>I also feel for the poor clubhouse attendants in the Texas locker room. Can you imagine? Game 6 -- they had the champagne all ready, the plastic over the lockers. Suddenly Freese hits that walkoff homer in the 11th and they’re like, "Uh oh. We got two minutes to get all this shit outta here!"</i><br /><br />Three words: 1997. Jose. Mesa.<br /><br />It still hurts.Rory W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19415059737560904842011-10-29T12:47:17.101-07:002011-10-29T12:47:17.101-07:00Cardinal fan since '66. Although I hate the w...Cardinal fan since '66. Although I hate the wild card, I'm still happy about the Cards winning. <br /><br />But I do think the WS win cements Albert's leaving. He now has two rings. The only thing he doesn't have is $40 million a year, an amount that the Cardinals' front office is refusing to pay. I think King Albert will be playing in the AL next season unless the Nationals pull another surprise. <br /><br />And I can't blame him. I've taken quite a few jobs in my professional career simply because they paid more.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53170663106622152472011-10-29T12:29:59.460-07:002011-10-29T12:29:59.460-07:00I love this blog and read it every day, but I coul...I love this blog and read it every day, but I couldn't disagree with you, and all of official baseball, more about the World Series.<br /><br />The obvious and overwhelming story of the series was the way in which Texas threw up all over itself. <br /><br />Not a single distinguished pitching performance. Endless official errors and many more poor plays not technically errors. Runs given up in more than one game on walks and hit batters. 16 runs, a full frontal blow out, allowed in game 3. A rather weak effort against a great but short rest pitcher in game 7 (who Philly pummelled in similar circumstances).<br /><br />There was only one genuinely decent Texas showing in the four games won by the Cardinals.<br /><br />And game 6? The eternal classic? Go watch high school games for great back and forth drama. I watch professional athletes to see the very best in the world perform. Game 6 was a farce on those terms. Both teams played badly. The stage was obviously too big for many of them, and a couple of the Texas relivers looked downright scared in close up on camera.<br /><br />Texas had already given up a lead in that game four times, what was so surprising or exciting about seeing them do it yet again?<br /><br />Finally, the huge superstar of the series goes one (or was it two?)for six of the seven games, only allowing the hype machine to keep him afloat with a, now seen in context, bizarre game 3.<br /><br />And how charming was it to thrice see Albert coming back to the dugout after a home run, only to be prominently congratulated on the front step, in glorious two shot, by Mark McGuire? Just so there is no forgetting how deeply dishonest this generation of baseball's leadership has been.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26600989042792155722011-10-29T12:10:36.246-07:002011-10-29T12:10:36.246-07:00Ken, you mentioned "anthem singers" and ...Ken, you mentioned "anthem singers" and at the bar last night some of the people around me were commenting that one of the national anthems had been their favorite ever. Which game and what singer was this anthem?? <br /><br />You talk about the games running so late on the East Coast but how about when there's not a West Coast team they start when we're still at work? I didn't see the first 2 innings of a single game!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66543156863033951712011-10-29T11:48:47.761-07:002011-10-29T11:48:47.761-07:00Game six made me a fan again, after just about giv...Game six made me a fan again, after just about giving up on baseball. I'd (almost)forgotten how dramatic things can get. Fantastictbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61319452469407354392011-10-29T11:48:15.495-07:002011-10-29T11:48:15.495-07:00The All-Star game was sort of irrelevant, in a way...The All-Star game was sort of irrelevant, in a way. If the old system of alternating leagues was still being used, I think this would have been the National League's year to have homefield advantage.mfahearnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07739657962766278705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64517150111276392072011-10-29T10:36:15.979-07:002011-10-29T10:36:15.979-07:00I lived in Minneapolis when the Twins won in the 7...I lived in Minneapolis when the Twins won in the 7th game, both times at home of course, in 1987 and 1991. In '91 after the win, the whole city went downtown (a few blocks from the Metrodome) and high-fived each other. (This was immediately before the famous Halloween snowstorm that year.)<br /><br />My question is: when teams win the Series in the 7th game, how much of the victory can be attributed to home-team crowd advantage? Of the seven-game Series in recent decades, have most of the 7th games been at home for the victorious team? All I have to go on is 1987, 1991, and last night.<br /><br />As for "We'll see you tomorrow night": I had no idea about its history (although I'm sure I saw the 6th game on TV in 1991) and therefore it sounded fine to me.gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24443199301725283392011-10-29T10:23:50.851-07:002011-10-29T10:23:50.851-07:00Strong Objection said it best above. Joe Buck'...Strong Objection said it best above. Joe Buck's retread of his father's call makes him a hack. Everyone in Minnesota is royally pissed at him for it. It diminishes the legend of the 1991 series (which, IMHO, was still better than this one) and takes away from the uniqueness that this current series badly deserves.Paulhttp://dailyramblings.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41148048170230651022011-10-29T10:20:25.446-07:002011-10-29T10:20:25.446-07:00Joe Buck's "We'll see you tomorrow ni...Joe Buck's "We'll see you tomorrow night" ripoff wasn't a wonderful homage. It was corny, forced hackery. It's not even the first time that Buck has rehashed the line.<br /><br />Jack Buck's original announcing was an authentic response to the moment. Junior's callback was a preplanned "reaction" that simultaneously diverted attention to himself and diminished the uniqueness of the game at hand.<br /><br />Who wants to hear Julian Lennon sing "Imagine"?Strong objectionnoreply@blogger.com