The sun through the smoke of the southern California wildfires.

I was meaning to write something here about how much of a mistake it was to start Josh Beckett on three days rest in game 6 of the World Series, and then Carl Pavano, also on short rest, in game 7, if necessary. It was, in my mind, the same mistake the Indians made back in 1997 against the Marlins – starting Bartolo Colon on three days rest in game 6 (and having him not pitch well) and then not having your best pitcher ready for game 7. I really thought they’d be better off throwing anyone else out there tonight, and then having Beckett on full rest, with Pavano on three days out of the bullpen if needed.

Josh Beckett proved me wrong. He threw a seven hit shutout, walked only two batters, and struck out nine on only 107 pitches. This was his second complete game shutout of the postseason, and incredibly, only the second complete game (and shutout) of his career. He’s never thrown a complete game during the regular season, and now has two in the biggest games of his career. The first, with his team down three games to one and facing elimination, and the second to clinch the World Series.

And he’s a year younger than I am. Incredible.

(P.S.: Woohoo! Yankees lost!)

Haven’t had much to say lately. Still don’t really have much interesting, just a bunch of stuff to complain about.

Obviously, I’m not at all happy with the Yankees and Marlins in the World Series. I’m rooting for Marlins, out of hatred for the Yanks, but I’d prefer if somehow neither team won. Unfortunately, that could only happen if the two teams I wanted in there, the Sox and Cubs, made it.

Speaking of the Yankees… well, I ordered a new bowling ball. A plastic spare ball. This one, specifically. The package showed up yesterday, and they accidently sent me this one. ANY other team, except maybe the Braves, I could deal with, but they had to send me the fucking Yankees. I called them this morning, and they’re sending out the right one today.

While I’m on the topic of bowling, I can complain about that, too. I’ve been bowling really badly lately, and I’m not sure why. I somehow managed to average 173 over 4 games last night, but only one of those games was above the 173. I did win that game, and my team did well, despite me. Doesn’t really make it any better, though.

More complaining: The GSM Treo 600 has been delayed. It was supposed to come out 10/13, then 10/20. Latest dates I’m hearing now are 11/03 or 11/24. If number portability was already in effect, I’d probably switch to Sprint now, as the CDMA model is already out. Lucky bastards.

All of these things are pretty minor annoyances, really. There’s something else bothering me more… but I don’t think I want to or should talk about it here. So that’s all you get.

To end on a funny note: Own an Official Piece of ALCS History. Well, not really. The seller ended the auction because the item was lost or broken. I’m guessing broken. [Screenshots: 1 2 for when the auction gets taken down.] Thanks to Jon for sending me the link.

http://www.wilwheaton.net/mt/archives/001408.php#001408

Fuckers.

Grady Little made the same mistake as Dusty Baker last night. Left Pedro in two batters too long. Tie game, 5-5, in the 8th.

Fucking managers.

Fuck the billygoat.

Fuck Dusty Baker.

Fuck Steve Bartman.

Fuck Alex Gonzalez.

Fuck them all.

…and I’m not even a Cubs fan. I can’t imagine how they must feel.

He may have turned the Cubs around this year, getting them to the NLCS after losing 95 games last year (though I credit most of that to the players, not the manager), but he really sucks in the postseason. Leaving Mark Prior in there in the 8th inning was just the next in a long string of bad postseason decisions by Dusty Baker. Sure, the fan in the outfield stands, and Alex Gonzalez deserve some of the blame, but most of it belongs on the shoulders of the manager here. The bullpen should have been busy when Prior went out there for the start of the 8th. As soon as anyone got on base, he should have been pulled. As simple as that.

Other recent postseason blunders by Baker, off the top of my head:
1. Starting Livan Hernandez instead of Reuter in game 7 of the World Series last year. Incidently, I was there, to see the Giants lose.
2. Leaving Mark Gardner in to bat for himself in the top of the 5th inning of the 2000 NLDS, against the Mets. With the bases loaded, two down, and the Giants having only gotten one hit off Bobby Jones all game, the pitcher bats for himself, and pops up. He would come out of the game in the bottom of the inning, anyway. Bobby Jones went on to throw a one-hit shutout. Oddly enough, I was at that game at Shea, too.

The major difference this time, I guess, is that I was rooting for Dusty’s team, not against it.

PS: I hate the Yankees. Boston better win two in a row in New York.

I think, just maybe, I’ve been bowling too much. For the first time in a long time, my arm is actually sore and tired after (and actually during) bowling today. I bowled pretty badly, too. So badly I’m not even going to actually tell you my scores. I think I need to go ice my arm like a starting pitcher, or something. Tomorrow night, I play softball, and then I bowl again Wednesday. Then I rest my arm until next Monday.

Yesterday, Josh Beckett pitched the game of his life for the Marlins. His first career complete game, first career shutout. He did it in the biggest game of his life, needing a win to avoid elimination. The Cubs only managed two hits, three baserunners, and none of them got past first base. Cubs still look pretty good to win the series, though, with Prior going tomorrow, and Wood going in game 7 if necessary. The two of them are a combined 4-0 in the postseason.

Tim Wakefield shut down the Yankees with his knuckleball for 7 innings today, and the Red Sox tied up the series at two games a piece. Mussina didn’t pitch badly today, but his record this postseason dropped to 0-3. The Sox really caught a break with the rainout yesterday, as they got to skip Burkett yesterday, get Wakefield today, and get Lowe pitching tomorrow at home. His ERA at home is almost 3 runs lower than it is on the road.

We’re just three wins away from Sox/Cubs. Whatever happens, I want the Yankees to lose.

There have been so many extra inning games this postseason, I’m starting to get sick of them. Well, not really. I love this game.

Cubs lead the Marlins 2 games to 1. Game three ended with a runner who was only on base because of a dropped third strike getting caught in a rundown and tagged out because the third baseman couldn’t field the ball cleanly. The runner didn’t really do anything wrong, he just got screwed. Not that I’m complaining.

5 wins to go for Cubs/Sox Series.

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