Part two: Watching A Game, is to help the newbie fan with basic game lingo.
It will come in handy especially when watching a game on TV or listening on the radio to start to understand the announcers jargon and relating it to whats going on in the game.
BASEBALL’S BASIC LINGO:
Bat: If you don’t know this, STOP and forget baseball.
Baseball: The ball pitchers throw and batters try to hit with the bat.
Bases Empty: Bases are empty.
Continue reading ‘Baseball Basics: Watching A Game, Part Two’ »
It’s almost time for baseball fans to get back to work, as the season is right around the corner. If you want something to pass your time with below is a website of spoof sports articles. Trust this fan that this is worth checking out. Please click on link below or read the humorous article mocking the Yankees below.
Serious Sports News Network
Here is an article from their classics section to give you an idea:
Yankees buy title
NEW YORK, NY — Despite the fact that George Steinbrenner’s Yankee organization has outspent most of the third world combined, they haven’t made it to the World Series in more than three years. With all else failing, the eccentric owner decided that enough was enough – instead of buying players to win a World Series, he has decided to simply buy the World Series Championship itself, leaving nothing to chance.
On Wednesday, Major League Baseball officials confirmed the sale of the 2007 World Series title to the Yankees for a reported $1.5 billion, with an option to purchase the 2008 title for an additional $2.5 billion. “It’s a great day for Yankees fans everywhere, and we feel that we got one hell of a bargain from the MLB. Top THAT Boston!” Steinbrenner hollered from TV screens around the country.
Specifics of the deal are still sketchy at the moment, but it seems the season will go on as planned. The Yankees will play their regular schedule this year; however, they will be given a 55 run lead at the start of every game and will set the starting lineup of their opposition. If that wasn’t enough, pitchers cannot throw over seventy miles per hour and must throw it directly down the middle of the plate.
Manager Joe Torre is letting the fans know that despite this obvious advantage, the team will face some challenges this season. “Owning the championship ahead of time will benefit us; I’m not going to lie about that. But one thing we can’t control is the weather, and everyone knows that can dictate the outcome of any game – even if you are winning by 55,” the skipper warned with a self-important smirk.
The Yankees will now be the first franchise in history to have a realistic shot at a perfect season, and will undoubtedly rewrite the record book as they progress through the year. The deal also allows the Yankees to name the World Series MVP now, and Steinbrenner decided to bestow the honor upon team captain Derek Jeter. “I’d like to thank Mr. Steinbrenner and MLB for this honor, and also my teammates for giving everything they- er, for everything they are going to give this season. It just goes to show you hard work does pay off,” Jeter told reporters in the locker room as he bounced a supermodel on his knee.
According to league sources, Alex Rodriguez was the runner up in MVP voting – with Steinbrenner predicting he will finish an astounding 24-24 at the plate with 22 home runs and 55 RBI – thereby vindicating himself for years of post-season failure. “Even though some fans have doubted me all these years, and screamed for the team to get rid of me, I knew that it wouldn’t be long before I proved the kind of player I am. It’s going to be a very rewarding experience; one that I’ll cherish forever,” A-Rod said, wiping away tears of joy with hundred-dollar bills.
MLB also made an exception for first baseman Jason Giambi at the request of Steinbrenner: they will no longer test him for performance enhancing drugs and will allow Jose Canseco in the locker room as his personal trainer. “It’s about time the league wizened up and realized that fans love the raw Italian power that my natural supplements bring,” the pimply-faced slugger said as Jose plunged a syringe deep into his posterior.
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase Yankees 2007 World Series Championship merchandise starting on opening day at Yankee Stadium, or on MLB.com.
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Going into Philadelphia tied at one, to play three against the defending champs left the notion of uncertainty among the Yankees faithful.
Well, Yankees fans can sleep well tonight. The Bombers have taken the first two of three in Philly, securing a 3-1 lead.
One win away from being the champions feels pretty sturdy but it’s still not over, till that last out.
The Yankees are playing extremely solid baseball, taking advantage anytime given.
Anytime has a lot to do with not having the Phillies ace Cliff Lee on the mound. The rest of the Phillies pitching is unreliable, which was on full display for the Fanatic and company to witness.
In case you forgot or want to see what happened, read on for a fan’s outline of game three and four.
GAME 3 – Rain-storm went away and Yanks beat Phillies to close the day.
Saturday night’s game looked near to be a wash-out as the rain came down in Philadelphia. The downpours stopped about an hour after the real start, but the drizzling continued for the rest of the game.
The weather was not the only variable in Citizens Park, but Phillies own Cole Hamels, last year’s World Series MVP.
Hamels gave a burst of his MVP stuff for the first two innings. In-addition, Jayson Werth,
added with on of two homers to take an early lead.
Then Yankees responded with a two-run ruled homer by Arod, followed by a Swisher double and a thriller by Godzilla to give the Yanks a continuous advantage.
In the fifth, Johnny Damon whacked a true Damon style double, after our Southpaw hit a line drive single. Both adding RBI’s for the Yanks.
Pettitte looked like a conventional hitter at the plate, as well as got the job done on the mound. The first inning was an adjustment but Pettitte got back to himself after the second inning.
Record breaking #17 will go down in books for the most number of wins for any pitcher in the playoffs, in history, as Andy Pettitte’s to keep.
Cole Hamels walked off the field to the sound of sorrow from his fans. This has been Cole all season, so it is not that much of a surprise especially in Philadelphia. Hamels is not the same MVP pitcher that has been his only consistency.
Game finished up in typical Yankee tradition. The dominant Mariano closed out the win, with a result of 8-5 and Yankees to take 2-1 series lead.
The Phillies manager, Charlie Manuel made some poor choices that only cemented the Yankees win. Not pinch-hitting Ben Francisco in the sixth, with a runner on first and Pettitte over 100 pitches just made no reason.
The second issue, is why did Manuel not take Chad Durbin out of the game? No one even got up in the dugout to warm-up, when Durbin was struggling.
GAME 4 – Winners play to win, as Yankees prove that in Philly
Two things best to sum up game four of the World Series.
The first is a quote from former Yankee player and manager, Billy Martin.
“Another club can be beating you for six innings but for some reason the good ball clubs get tough and win them in the last three.”
The second is the standard for this quote, which was clearly, seen in the performance of Johnny Damon.
Damon is a formidable player this is common knowledge but it takes a talented player with passion and knowledge that becomes inspirational.Pedro Feliz hit a home-run in the eighth to tie the score, and the Philly crowd went wild with the reality of a win.
That feeling turned to revolt pretty quickly with two outs in the top of the ninth.
Damon fought off wild-card closer Brad Lidge and finally hitting a single into left after nine pitches.
The once strong Lidge and company shifted over for Mark Teixeira lefty bat with no respect for Damon. Damon stole second, saw no one at third and took advantage of the Phillies mistake.
Smart baseball at its best as Damon still on top of his game in the ninth is what a champion is made off.
Lidge caught the virus from Hamels this season as he blew 11 saves, highest in the majors. Lidge seemed back to himself again at the beginning of the playoffs but in fact he should have been covering third-base.
The Yankees won 7-4 because in the World Series careless mistakes cannot be made. The Phillies regard to staying mentally in sync is hurting. Team leaders Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins struggling, a wild-card closer and a starter who just wants the season to be over.
Champions need to win and will do what it takes to get there. That is clearly what the Yankees came to do in the World Series thus far, and it shows.
In game five the Yankees have the burden of Cliff Lee who is an genius of a pitcher. Burnett will take the mound for the Yanks on three days rest and cannot have a rough inning, nor 15 crazy pitches in a row. AJ was impressive in game two but now facing Lee he has no other option.
Yankees can win the whole thing on Monday night, and if things continue on, there will not be a game six in New York. That I can guarantee you.
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The Nationals took the series from my Yankees tonight by winning their second out of three games. Am I that surprised? No.
Why? I look at the weeks prior to this series and in years past this is the time right before the all-star break where the length of the season starts to take its toll. Everyone is tired, players, managers are a little burnt out but its just part of baseball.
I know this sounds like an excuse but I am neither the fan, nor the type of person who comes up with excuses for my favorite team to make myself feel better. There is no reason for it because the performance will speak for itself in the big picture. The word discouraged comes to mind when losing two of three to the worst team, by far in the entire majors. I can promise you that my discouragement will turn to anger if the Yankees miss the playoffs by a game. Not only did the Yanks lose an easy series but also Jeter had to be taken out in the first game. It was evident to all watching by his ankle being in pain as Derek limped to first base. Any fan knows that our Captain does not like sitting out games and always wants to play. When Girardi called on Jeter to pinch-hit tonight I was uneasy which I will sustain over the next few games as losing Jeter cannot occur. Our Captain is so vital words cannot express; that’s why he has that title and honor.
In second game of this series against Washington, Chien-Ming Wang was starting and Jeter not on the roaster. All who love the Yanks knew the prerequisite for the game was that Wang had to prove himself again and that was mandatory. Yes, I agree that he was improved compared to his previous starts. And I hate to be blunt and completely unoptimistic but Wang stunk in all his prior starts this season. I am actually being kind when I come to think of it.
Regardless of a pitchers contributions in past seasons this is about the current season and the current season only. I am in full agreement that a player who is not near the age of retirement, along with a track record that Wang obviously possesses does deserve the benefit of the doubt for whatever the reason that it is not the norm. Then Yankees have been more then generous in terms of showing their confidence in allowing Wang to be in the rotation. I cannot think of a better boost of confidence than a team that continues to lose games when you start and still not getting discouraged in your abilities as a player. Enough is enough here. I don’t think the miracle is going to happen to Chien-Ming Wang. Continue reading ‘Who Sent The Memo "The Nationals Turn To Nasty???"’ »
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