Baseball '09, Volume V: Radio Edition, Mark II
Baseball is the stuff of lessons.
For instance, I've learned to never expect much from the Giants on the road. They are having a very literary year, in so far as they are exemplifying a Jekyll and Hyde dichotomy. They have been strong at home, posting an 18-9 record along the waterfront of San Francisco Bay, but equally meek on the road, seven wins to sixteen losses. They swept Atlanta and took two of three from St. Louis at home, and then today gave up a lead late and get buried by the Washington Nationals in the capital.
After tonight, the Giants have racked up 25 wins to match 25 losses. Almost a beautiful, harmonious symmetry to that. Almost.
The Nationals can hit, and hit well, but they are the sort of mild-mannered team that we should beat on the road, if we are to be able to maintain the illusion of being a good team ourselves. When it comes to determining who is a good team and who is not, all other arguments aside, the win-loss record is a loud demonstration of if you play baseball well or not. No moral relativism about that.
No drama to report. Tim Lincecum leaves in the 7th with a one run lead, Jeremy Affeldt gets us out of that inning, and the rest of the bullpen proceeds to be shellacked.
Here are the lessons to be garnered:
1) Of the two big-money free agent relief pitchers signed this off-season, Jeremy Affeldt is solid. Bob Howry, not so much.
2) It doesn't matter, really, if you win every game. You'll win some, you'll lose some, but there is joy to be found in the small details, no matter what. As long as we win more games than the Dodgers. Crud.
So maybe there weren't that many lessons to be garnered. But that's okay. Baseball is baseball, and there will be more in the months ahead.
For instance, I've learned to never expect much from the Giants on the road. They are having a very literary year, in so far as they are exemplifying a Jekyll and Hyde dichotomy. They have been strong at home, posting an 18-9 record along the waterfront of San Francisco Bay, but equally meek on the road, seven wins to sixteen losses. They swept Atlanta and took two of three from St. Louis at home, and then today gave up a lead late and get buried by the Washington Nationals in the capital.
After tonight, the Giants have racked up 25 wins to match 25 losses. Almost a beautiful, harmonious symmetry to that. Almost.
The Nationals can hit, and hit well, but they are the sort of mild-mannered team that we should beat on the road, if we are to be able to maintain the illusion of being a good team ourselves. When it comes to determining who is a good team and who is not, all other arguments aside, the win-loss record is a loud demonstration of if you play baseball well or not. No moral relativism about that.
No drama to report. Tim Lincecum leaves in the 7th with a one run lead, Jeremy Affeldt gets us out of that inning, and the rest of the bullpen proceeds to be shellacked.
Here are the lessons to be garnered:
1) Of the two big-money free agent relief pitchers signed this off-season, Jeremy Affeldt is solid. Bob Howry, not so much.
2) It doesn't matter, really, if you win every game. You'll win some, you'll lose some, but there is joy to be found in the small details, no matter what. As long as we win more games than the Dodgers. Crud.
So maybe there weren't that many lessons to be garnered. But that's okay. Baseball is baseball, and there will be more in the months ahead.
posted by Devin at 9:07 PM
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