World Series Game Five = 3:42 Boredom Factor = 33

The Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up the 2024 World Series coming from behind twice to beat the New York Yankees 7-6.  The Yankees were up 5-0 before the Dodgers clawed back to score five of their own in the fifth inning to tie it. The Yanks went back up in the 6th inning with a run before the Dodgers scored two more in the top of the eighth.  Blake Treinen and Walker Buehler then combined to close out New York and win Game 5 and the World Series.

This was the longest game of the series clocking in at 3:42.  It was an exciting game, but still three hours and 42 minutes for a nine inning game?  MLB needs to go back to the drawing board and tighten up the rules in place to speed up play.

The Boredom Factor is a combined total of 18 strikeouts and 16 walks as well as a hit batsman.  But, the biggest time waster was all of the pitching changes. The Dodgers changed hurlers seven times and the Yankees made four changes. I realize numerous pitching changes have become a part of today's game, but it is also killing the game. MLB "leadership", if there really is any, needs to figure out how to tighten up the game even more. I could write at length about this and will when I have more time.

Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers was selected by writers and broadcasters as the World Series MVP. He homered four times and drove in 13.  The only other player who I would have considered for the MVP is Mookie Betts who drove in 16 runs while batting .290

I mentioned Aaron Judge in the post prior to this one.  For the record, he ended up climbing over the Mendoza line, hitting .184 for the series. He was 2 for 3, with a double and a home run.

World Series Game Four = 3:16 Boredom Factor = 22

Apparently, the rules implemented by Major League  Baseball before the 2023 season don't apply in the World Series.  Actually, they do apply but this game logged in at three hours and 16 minutes.  The Yankees finally got a win in Game 4 as Aaron Judge got a hit and contributed to the Yanks 11-4 win over the Dodgers.  Judge is still below the Mendoza line hitting a "whopping" .152 for the series.

The boredom factor is a metric I came up with to count the number of times a batter came to the plate and failed to put the ball in play.  There were a combined 12 strikeouts, nine walks and a hit batsman.  There were also 9 pitching changes where a national TV audience watched commercials and Yankee Fans sat around waiting for the game to continue.

The Dodgers now lead the Yankees three games to one.

World Series Game Three = 3:25; Boredom Factor is 31

The World Series shifted cross country from Los Angeles to the Bronx.  The Dodgers behind the strong pitching of Walker Buehler  won the game 4-2.  For the third consecutive game Freddie Freeman homered for the Dodgers.

The boredom factor of the game is 28.  This is a statistic I've developed that counts the times a batter fails to put the ball into play during an at bat. This game there were18 strikeouts, 12 walks and one hit batsman.

The game as you saw in the headline for this post lasted a whopping three hours and 25 minutes. The main reason for this is both managers over used their bullpens. The Yankees used nine pitchers and the Dodgers employed 8 pitchers.  The TV talking heads tried to tell the public this was exciting baseball.  But, I doubt many people who watched it agree with that assessment.  

World Series Game Two = 2:53

The Los Angeles Dodgers won for the second night in a row downing the New York Yankees 4-2 behind the pitching of Yoshinobu Yamamoto.  And for the second night in a row Freddie Freeman homered for the Dodgers.

There were a lot of dull moments in this game too as 18 plate appearances took place without the hitter putting the ball into play.  There were 13 strikeouts, three walks and two hit batsmen, both times Anthony Rizzo was hanging out over the plate when he got plunked.  Rizzo needs to remember half of that plate belongs to the pitcher.

If you are looking for the time and boredom factor in Game One you may read about it by going to this post.

Dodgers Are the New World Series Champions

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers on their defeat of the New York Yankees four games to one.  I didn't watch any of the games, because they are too long and boring. But, I did read the Associated Press stories and it will not go down as a great series.

I will post my annual time and lack of action blogs in the coming day or two.  To give you an idea of what I mean, Game 1 lasted 3:27. (It went one extra inning before the Dodgers won on a walk-off grand slam by Freddie Freeman; one of the few highlights of the five game championship).

There were 24 trips to the plate in game one which the ball was not put into play.  There were 17 strikeouts (three by the Yankees Mike Judge), six walks and one hit batsman.  All just a waste of fans time.

One final thought on the completed series, Game Three of the "Fall Classic" just barely beat a mid-season NFL game in the night's TV rating.  You would think the baseball championship would have fared much better in the rating than the Steelers and Giants.

Congratulations to the Newest HOF Members!

Derek Jeter and Larry Walker are the two newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  I count myself fortunate to have not just watched both of them play but to have watched them in person.  I saw Walker on a number of occasions at Busch Stadium II in downtown St. Louis and that's where I also watched Jeter play with the New York Yankees against the Cardinals on June 11th, 2005.

#2 Derek Jeter - "The Captain"

Jeter's selection was a given.  The only question I have is who didn't vote for him?  Jeter was one vote away from unanimous selection.  As I write this the identity of the Hall of Fame elector is unknown and what that voter was thinking is even more difficult to comprehend.  Jeter had a career with almost 35 hundred hits in over 11 thousand at bats and a lifetime .310 batting average.  The image of Jeter to the left is from a trip I made to the Bronx two years ago.  The image of him is on the exterior right field wall of Yankee Stadium.  I was standing on River Avenue when I took the photo.

The day I saw Jeter play against the Cardinals in St. Louis he was 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.  In the field he handled five chances flawlessly.  Normally I wouldn't remember one players day from 15 years ago, but I remembered he had a good day and went back to look it up.  "The Captain" was not a favorite of mine at the time, but as the years passed he earned my respect and now I am proud to be able to say I saw him in person and believe him to be one of the best to ever play shortstop in the history of the game.

The Yankees beat the Cardinals 5-0 the day I saw Jeter play.  But, he wasn't the only future Hall of Famer on the Field.  Larry Walker also played that day coming into the game as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th for Cardinal outfield So Taguchi.  And who you ask was on the hill for the Yankees when Walker came into the game?  Why none other than HOF reliever Mariano Rivera who was elected unanimously to the Hall last  year.

The match up ended up in Rivera's favor with Walker being called out on strikes that afternoon. As it turns out Rivera got a four out save and another Hall of Famer, Randy Johnson, got the win.

Larry Walker playing for the St. Louis Cardinals

Walker was near the end of his career that afternoon, but he had an illustrious one.  Walker had a lifetime average of .313 in 17 seasons with 383 home runs and 230 stolen bases.  He started his career with the Montreal Expos then moved to Colorado to play for the Rockies and ended it with his last two years in St. Louis.  In 2004 Walker was a trade deadline pickup and he helped the Cardinals to the World Series that year against the Boston Red Sox.  Walker hit .293 in the 2004 post season including six home runs with two of them coming against the Red Sox in the World Series.

Walker retired after the 2005 season and in those two years he became a huge fan favorite in St. Louis.  Walker says he will enter the Hall with a Colorado Rockie hat on his plaque.  Walker will become just the second Canadian to enter the Hall.  He will join former Chicago Cub pitcher Ferguson Jenkins who was inducted in 1991.

Walker and Jeter will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 26th along with former Cardinal Ted Simmons and labor leader Marvin Miller who were selected by the Modern Era baseball committe a little over a month ago.

Congratulations to the Hall of Fame class of 2020!

Congratulations Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2019

Baseball inducted six new members into its Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY this afternoon.  The class is comprised of Mike Mussina, the late Roy Halladay, Harold Baines, Edgar Martinez, Lee Smith and Mariano Rivera.

I have written previously of my experiences watching Baines and Smith.  While they did not make it initially on their retirement, they were selected by the Today's Game Era committee in December. Both posted numbers worthy of Hall of Fame induction.  Smith's arrival was delayed for several years because of his role as a closer.  Baines' admission was delayed by the long overdue consideration of designated heroes.

Lee Smith's HOF plaque pictures him in a Chicago Cubs cap.  But, he also spoke fondly of his years with the Cardinals.  He thanked his former manager with the Redbirds, Joe Torre, for the guidance and direction he received while playing in St.Louis.  He also spoke highly of Cardinal fans saying they were always supportive of him during his three and a half years with the Cardinals.

I don't ever recall seeing Mike Mussina pitch in person but I saw him throw on TV many times. I can recall him battling in the World Series against the Diamondbacks in 2001 and the Marlins in 2003. In all Mussina pitched in 16 post season series and won seven games.  That may not be a lot but each of those were big wins for the Yankees. During his long career with the Orioles and Yankees he started 536 games and won 270 of them while striking out over 2800 batters along the way.

Roy Halladay joined the Hall posthumously following his retirement after the 2013 season from the Philadelphia Phillies.  He died an untimely death when the plane he was piloting crashed into the Gulf of Mexico in November 2017.  Halladay's widow Brandy Halladay accepted her late husband's plaque at the induction ceremony.  In an emotional speech she thanked the Hall for voting her husband into baseball immortality.  I had the good fortune to see Halladay pitch in person at Busch Stadium III when he was a Phillie. He gave my beloved Cardinals fits.  But, there were a number of pitching gems when he battled against his former buddy Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals.  The Cardinals managed to win afew times including a classic in the 2011 NLDS.  Halladay posted 203 wins in 16 seasons with the Bluejays and Phils.  He also posted over 21 hundred strikeouts.

From the sounds of the induction ceremony there were a large number of fans from the Pacific Northwest who traveled across the country to Cooperstown to see Edgar Martinez go into the Hall.  I was fortunate to see Martinez play in person for the Mariners in the old King Dome in Seattle when visiting friends who lived there in the early 90's.  Martinez had one of the sweetest swings I ever saw and he drove the ball with authority.  Combined with his speed he led the American League in doubles twice.  Once in 1992 and again in 1995.  But, his best year may have been 2000 when he drove in an amazing 145 runs. I also remember seeing two of the most exciting players in the same lineup when he and Ken Griffey, Jr. played together for over ten years.  Junior is already a member of the Hall having been inducted in 2016.

And last but not least the Hall inducted Mariano Rivera this afternoon.  I got to see Rivera play one time in person against the Cardinals but oh what a performance it was. In June 2005 the Yankees were at Busch Stadium II.  At the time I was not a fan of inter-league play.  To be honest I am still not a fan of it.  But, I was fortunate because I saw two future Hall of Famers pitch for the Yankees that afternoon.  Randy Johnson, who was inducted in 2015, pitched the first 7 innings before giving way to Tom "Flash" Gordon in the eighth.  Gordon allowed two runners and with two out Rivera came in for a four out save opportunity.  He struck out Larry Walker to end the inning.  In the 9th he got future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols to foul out to first and then struck out Reggie Sanders and Mark Grudzielanek to record his 14th save of the season.  In his speech this afternoon Rivera also gave thanks to his former manager Joe Torre.  One final note Rivera is the only player to be elected to the Hall unanimously on the first ballot.

Congratulations to all six 2019 Hall of Famers and their families!

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Epic Fail!

 Copyright United Features Syndicate

Once again Major League Baseball has taken a golden opportunity and turned it into a colossal screw up.

This past Saturday and Sunday MLB managed to get two games scheduled in London between the Red Sox and Yankees.  Baseball says the plan was to expose Europeans to the game played every day in the US during the summer.  Well, they played two games and the result was two of the most boring baseball games you've ever seen.  MLB hyped the game on Saturday as a classic.  It was won by the Yankees 17-13.  The nine inning game lasted 4 hours 42 minutes.  So, yes, in a way it was a classic.  It was a classic snooze-fest!  And the game on Sunday was almost as horrible.  It lasted 18 minutes less checking in at 4:24 with the Yankees winning 12-8.  It sounds exciting but it wasn't.  I found myself flipping channels on Saturday and never bothered to return to the game.  On Sunday I decided I didn't have five hours of my life to waste watching Triple A pitchers strike out hitters slugging for the fences on every pitch and striking out at an alarming rate.

I suppose the Londoners wondered what kind of game this was.  It wasn't cricket but the long boring game on Saturday might have resembled it to the Brits who were brave enough to go to think it was going to be fun.

MLB do us a favor and cancel your plans for another London series next summer between the Cardinals and Cubs.  I am a longtime fan of the Cardinals but I won't watch a rehash of the debacle on Saturday and Sunday that lasted a combined nine hours and six minutes.

Apparently there is only one team of value in Major League Baseball

I must have missed the memo.  Why you ask?  Well, on each of the past two weekends the Boston Red Sox have been the featured team on nationally televised games.

Last week the MLB Network, Fox and ESPN teamed up to ram the Red Sox and New York Yankees down the rest of the nation's collective throat.  This week Fox and ESPN are again doing their very best to make us think the Red Sox are the only team of value in the Majors.  Why?  Fox and ESPN have both decided the Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are the only games the entire nations cares to see.

In fairness to the Red Sox and Dodgers they are the best teams in each of their leagues.  And they are both playing great baseball.  (The same can not be said of the Yankees).

Once upon a time the Boston Nine were a bunch of lovable losers.  But no so any more.  So MLB Network, Fox and ESPN remember there are 30 teams in the Big Leagues and most of us could care less about the Boston Red Sox.

Congratulations Cardinals and Rays

Six weeks ago I gave up on the St. Louis Cardinals and declared them to "officially suck". Apparently, I was wrong. The team completed an improbable run to the playoffs with an 8-0 win last night over the hapless Houston Astros and finished the season as the National League Wild Card champion.

This Cardinal team trailed the Atlanta Braves by 10 1/2 games in late August and to be honest I had stopped watching. I just couldn't stand the poor defense, mediocre relief pitching and crappy management by Tony LaRussa. But, with the aid of one of the biggest chokes of all times by the Braves, the Cardinals are now in Major League Baseball's 2011 World Series tournament.

As amazing as the Cards were in overcoming that huge deficit, the Tampa Bay Rays overcome even bigger odds. The Rays clinched the Wild Card spot in the American League with a come from behind win over the evil New York Yankees. The Yanks led at one point 7-0, but the Rays kept battling and came back to tie it with a two out solo homer in the bottom of the ninth. Then in the bottom of the 12th Evan Longoria hit a walkoff homerun to win the game 8-7. At the same time an even bigger choke artist, the Boston Red Sox, blew a lead to a bad Baltimore Orioles team, and the Rays are in the playoffs. Hey Boston, don't let the door hit you in the ass.

Watch out now, because while the Yanks (the best team money could buy) had the best record in the American League this year, I believe the Rays are to them what Kryptonite is to Superman. It should be a fun post season.

Yankees and Red Sox are on TV again

Just like last time they played, this is what 90 percent of the baseball world thinks of this matchup:

WHO CARES?

For some reason the thought of watching these two overpaid teams compete unfairly against the rest of baseball just doesnt seem right. They play at a snail's pace which is just downright boring. I'm watching golf on CBS instead and that's not exactly exciting. Hey Fox get your head out of your ass.

Yankees vs. Red Sox

Who cares?

Catching Up

I've been busy this past couple of weeks and haven't had much time to write. In reality, there hasn't been much to write about.

In sports the baseball playoffs have been boring being dominated by two East Coast teams I have no use for. (Although, as I write this the Angels have rallied against the Yankees to go ahead in game six). But, I fear ultimately it will be another "who cares" World Series of the Yank This and Fillies. (Yes, pun intended).

In other sports, Mizzou has lost two in a row and is poised to lose to Texas this weekend in Columbia and the Rams have continued their winless streak and are now 6-0. But, I believe their defense is actually better than last year.

I guess if I can find some humor in the whole situation it was listening to ESPN talking head Chris Berman trying to do baseball play-by-play. Berman's huge ego got in the way and he was terrible, but so bad he became a laughing stock. Thanks for the laughs Boomer.

Fortunatly,the Cards Aren't Alone

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have done the rest of the baseball world a favor by eliminating one of the most overhyped overpaid ballclubs that made the playoffs. Goodbye, Boston Red Sox.

The Angels came from two runs down in the top of the ninth this afternoon to beat the Sox and sweep them out of the American League playoffs. The final this afternoon was 7-6.

I am not a hater of the Red Sox, but I am glad to see their high priced team go the way of the rest of most MLB clubs. Now if only the Twins can bounce back against those low life Yankees.

Catching Up

I've been meaning to post on this for some time...but what is wrong with the New York City Council? The Yankees have made a joke of the MLB "Luxury Tax" this winter by signing Mark Teixeira, AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia.

The Yankees are paying over to $420 Million for this trio. So, it raises the question in my mind, why is the city of New York being asked for financial assistance to pay for the new Yankee stadium? If I were a city taxpayer I would be livid (especially if I were a Mets fan) about having to subsidize this mis-managed bunch in the Bronx.

and Yet AGAIN

I have to laugh. I just looked at the TV sports lineup for this afternoon and see TBS is the latest media outlet to jump on the Yankees ratings bandwagon. TBS positions itself as a national outlet but it is based in Atlanta. My guess is most Atlantans would rather watch the Braves than a bunch of overpaid egotists from Gotham City. Go Indians!

And AGAIN

This afternoon the Fox Network is being creative with it's Game of the Week schedule. Guess who they are showing to most of the nation? Why it's none other than the freakin' New York Yankees. I'm sure most people outside of the rotten apple will be rooting for the Cleveland Indians to spank them.

They're On AGAIN

How many times is enough? ESPN is showing the New York Yankees yet again this evening. I guess the so called producers at the satellite station claiming to be the "leader in sports" must think the whole world loves the team from the Bronx.

Well, guess what? No one born south of Boston or west of the Hudson could give a rat's butt. But, since all the children who work at ESPN in production grew up in the city America resents, you are going to have to suffer this mediocre bunch a lot more this summer.