Baseball '08, Volume VIII: Father's Day Edition
Ball one, the first pitch of the game, and the world collapses in ruin, 42,000 fans raining down hatred and despair on the shoulders of Barry Zito, the $126 million dollar man, who at times has given the impression that he thinks he is being paid per run and walk surrendered.
For the non-baseball fans out there, he isn't.
It has reached the point, fairly or unfairly--okay, mostly unfairly--that Zito's every pitch is scrutinized, every ball considered proof of his failure as a pitcher. Each pitch that isn't a perfect strike draws the ire of the fans wearing the Zito Sucks pins.
When he walks the first two Rangers batters he faced on Sunday afternoon, the crowd lets out a collective groan around us, figuring that there's the ball game right there. It felt like he was pitching too fast, like he wasn't settling down between pitches, but just going right into the next pitch wide of the mark.
It's a beautiful day, other than the pitching. I had walked from the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero to the ballpark, enjoying the fresh air and the views of the bay, on my way to meet Vaughn.
Then all of a sudden, I realize it is through six innings, and Barry Zito has yet to give up a hit, and the Giants lead 2-0 when Aaron Rowand tripled and scored on a wild throw from Elvis Andrus, the Rangers young prodigy of a shortstop, that let both Rowand and Renteria score. "Holy shit," I say to Vaughn. We discuss the protocol, and come to the consensus that the superstition is just that team itself can't mention the no-hit possibility to the pitcher, for fear of jinxing it. Fans can talk about it all they want. At the end of the sixth inning, Zito makes a nice fielding play to preserve his no-hitter, and he walked off the field to the roaring approval of his loyal fans.
Then in the 7th, Andruw Jones hits a two run home run to ruin everything.
But in the bottom of the 7th, Aaron Rowand makes a key baserunning effort, going from first to third on a single by Renteria to shallow right, and eventually scores on Randy Winn's single.
Baseball is often decided by small details. Rowand hustled all the way to third base. Ian Kinsler of the Rangers made a poor baserunning decision and got doubled off first on a flyout. Elvis Andrus couldn't decide where to throw on Randy Winn's bloop hit in the third, resulting in both runners being safe, and both would eventually score.
It's also decided by players like Zito finding a groove, battling through the first two walks, and pitching a great game to secure a 3-2 win. Great way to spend a Father's Day!
For the non-baseball fans out there, he isn't.
It has reached the point, fairly or unfairly--okay, mostly unfairly--that Zito's every pitch is scrutinized, every ball considered proof of his failure as a pitcher. Each pitch that isn't a perfect strike draws the ire of the fans wearing the Zito Sucks pins.
When he walks the first two Rangers batters he faced on Sunday afternoon, the crowd lets out a collective groan around us, figuring that there's the ball game right there. It felt like he was pitching too fast, like he wasn't settling down between pitches, but just going right into the next pitch wide of the mark.
It's a beautiful day, other than the pitching. I had walked from the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero to the ballpark, enjoying the fresh air and the views of the bay, on my way to meet Vaughn.
Then all of a sudden, I realize it is through six innings, and Barry Zito has yet to give up a hit, and the Giants lead 2-0 when Aaron Rowand tripled and scored on a wild throw from Elvis Andrus, the Rangers young prodigy of a shortstop, that let both Rowand and Renteria score. "Holy shit," I say to Vaughn. We discuss the protocol, and come to the consensus that the superstition is just that team itself can't mention the no-hit possibility to the pitcher, for fear of jinxing it. Fans can talk about it all they want. At the end of the sixth inning, Zito makes a nice fielding play to preserve his no-hitter, and he walked off the field to the roaring approval of his loyal fans.
Then in the 7th, Andruw Jones hits a two run home run to ruin everything.
But in the bottom of the 7th, Aaron Rowand makes a key baserunning effort, going from first to third on a single by Renteria to shallow right, and eventually scores on Randy Winn's single.
Baseball is often decided by small details. Rowand hustled all the way to third base. Ian Kinsler of the Rangers made a poor baserunning decision and got doubled off first on a flyout. Elvis Andrus couldn't decide where to throw on Randy Winn's bloop hit in the third, resulting in both runners being safe, and both would eventually score.
It's also decided by players like Zito finding a groove, battling through the first two walks, and pitching a great game to secure a 3-2 win. Great way to spend a Father's Day!
posted by Devin at 10:27 PM
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