Neither! If you followed yesterday's post, you read my complaints about the two yahoos the Giants and the Nationals ran out to the mound for yesterday's game. As it turns out, neither of those poor guys even factored into the decision.
That's right, Balester was all lined up for win number 2 when Luis Ayala came in to give the game away by being tagged for 3 runs in the 8th. He did, however, save Kevin Correia from dropping to 1-6.
Good group effort guys. I think the Nationals should leave the East and go West to further heighten the mediocrity of the division...but it's just a thought. You can change your name and location all you want, but you will always be the Expos and shall always bear that cross.
-Jobimoto out
"Ty Cobb wanted to come, but we couldn't stand him when he was alive."
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Battle of the Network Stars
So I'm sure you've noticed (or maybe not, since we have a reader-base of about 5), but I have more often than not been using this forum as an arena for honing my sports-writing skills as I have determined it is the best damn survival job as I get my acting career going. My current job is software testing, and lo and behold - from the heavens was gifted to me the opportunity to work on a sports website. The mighty eagle flew from the mountains with a snake in it's grasp, and this was a sign to me that I could someday achieve my dream.
It's been great, I've been using it to spend a lot of time looking at sports related material in the name of work - because it is (I have to compare stats, stories, etc). The most important function though is that I've been using it to take the time to learn to predict the outcome of a series of baseball games for a day, solely by reading pitching matchups, home teams, momentum, etc. If you have ever, EVER tried to bet on a baseball game, you will know it is the most maddening thing in existence. Forget Any Given Sunday, Any Given Inning can turn a sure thing into a complete wash. A bad hop, a dying quail, a bad call at first, and then that Grand Salami the backup catcher, picked up off waivers the previous day, hits for one of the two dingers he will launch all year leads to you trying to explain to your buddy that there must have been some kind of misunderstanding, no, you're not welching, but you'll have the money for him by Wednesday. Really.
So in looking at pitching lines, my goal is to come out predicting about 60% of the games correctly for now. Usually I do pretty well, but sometimes I come across a game that I just can't bring myself to choose a winner for. Example, and apologies to Blogi:
Washington Nationals @ San Francisco Giants:
WAS: Balester (1-2, 5.87 ERA)
SFO: Correia (1-5, 5.81 ERA)
Could this be any more of a non-game? Even running Zito out there would be entertaining because we can watch him limp towards a 20 loss season. These guys have two wins BETWEEN them on a combined 13 starts. Ok, ok, Balester only has 3 stats, but really? If I was a fan, of either team, who had planned my day around going to this game, I would not just be hurt, I would be offended. This is a wakeup call for fan appreciation day. You would have to pay me to go to this game. I would need someone from the Giants front office saying, "Ok, here's two free tickets. Not enough? How about a couple free beers??" Throw in some garlic cheese fries and I'm in (Blogi swears by them). Bottom line is, teams have go to do better by their fans.
With all that having been said, I predict a pitcher's duel with SF winning 2-1 and Correia getting the CG. Because when it comes to betting on baseball, the safe thing to do for that other 40% of the time is visualize what you think will happen, and then go completely against it.
-Jobimoto out
"Is there an option 3?"
It's been great, I've been using it to spend a lot of time looking at sports related material in the name of work - because it is (I have to compare stats, stories, etc). The most important function though is that I've been using it to take the time to learn to predict the outcome of a series of baseball games for a day, solely by reading pitching matchups, home teams, momentum, etc. If you have ever, EVER tried to bet on a baseball game, you will know it is the most maddening thing in existence. Forget Any Given Sunday, Any Given Inning can turn a sure thing into a complete wash. A bad hop, a dying quail, a bad call at first, and then that Grand Salami the backup catcher, picked up off waivers the previous day, hits for one of the two dingers he will launch all year leads to you trying to explain to your buddy that there must have been some kind of misunderstanding, no, you're not welching, but you'll have the money for him by Wednesday. Really.
So in looking at pitching lines, my goal is to come out predicting about 60% of the games correctly for now. Usually I do pretty well, but sometimes I come across a game that I just can't bring myself to choose a winner for. Example, and apologies to Blogi:
Washington Nationals @ San Francisco Giants:
WAS: Balester (1-2, 5.87 ERA)
SFO: Correia (1-5, 5.81 ERA)
Could this be any more of a non-game? Even running Zito out there would be entertaining because we can watch him limp towards a 20 loss season. These guys have two wins BETWEEN them on a combined 13 starts. Ok, ok, Balester only has 3 stats, but really? If I was a fan, of either team, who had planned my day around going to this game, I would not just be hurt, I would be offended. This is a wakeup call for fan appreciation day. You would have to pay me to go to this game. I would need someone from the Giants front office saying, "Ok, here's two free tickets. Not enough? How about a couple free beers??" Throw in some garlic cheese fries and I'm in (Blogi swears by them). Bottom line is, teams have go to do better by their fans.
With all that having been said, I predict a pitcher's duel with SF winning 2-1 and Correia getting the CG. Because when it comes to betting on baseball, the safe thing to do for that other 40% of the time is visualize what you think will happen, and then go completely against it.
-Jobimoto out
"Is there an option 3?"
Monday, July 21, 2008
Breaking news alert...
Jeremy Shockey got traded from the New York Giants to the New Orleans Saints today. The Giants fans are jumping for joy. The casual Saints fans are jumping for joy. The smart Saints fans are [most likely] going, "Looks like Reggie Bush will have even less blocking protection now."
Clearly anyone south of Jersey excited about this trade has not looked at the sports section of a New York newspaper in the last 6 years , or they would know that Shockey loves to a) get under his quarterback's skin b) not throw a timely block and c) drop passes that hit him in the numbers.
I swear to God or Ditka, whoever you hold more holy, that I have never seen anyone ever drop as many passes as this guy - in my darkest nightmares I can almost hear the "clunk" of pigskin against pad every time he was open in the end zone, the middle of the field, or just outside of the first down marker.
Congratulations, New Orleans, the albatross is yours - wear it proudly around your neck with plenty of Mardi Gras beads, because you are going to need all the booze in Bourbon Street to make you forget about this horrible trade while Shockey finishes his career in the Big Easy fading into obscurity...
-Jobimoto out.
"18-1."
Clearly anyone south of Jersey excited about this trade has not looked at the sports section of a New York newspaper in the last 6 years , or they would know that Shockey loves to a) get under his quarterback's skin b) not throw a timely block and c) drop passes that hit him in the numbers.
I swear to God or Ditka, whoever you hold more holy, that I have never seen anyone ever drop as many passes as this guy - in my darkest nightmares I can almost hear the "clunk" of pigskin against pad every time he was open in the end zone, the middle of the field, or just outside of the first down marker.
Congratulations, New Orleans, the albatross is yours - wear it proudly around your neck with plenty of Mardi Gras beads, because you are going to need all the booze in Bourbon Street to make you forget about this horrible trade while Shockey finishes his career in the Big Easy fading into obscurity...
-Jobimoto out.
"18-1."
Monday, July 14, 2008
As Useful as Soriano against a curveball
I mean honestly, why would you ever throw the guy anything over the plate? He was publicly humiliated by the Marlins in the 2003 World Series with every curve ball they threw. Each sequence when like this:
1) Curveball 6 inches off the plate (swinging strike one)
2) Curveball 12 inches off the plate (swinging strike two)
3) Curveball 18 inches off the plate (swinging strike out)
But making fun of Soriano isn't fashionable now that he returned from injury and actually helped the Cubs before going back on the DL. Oh it was fashionable when they did better without him, but now, not so much...anyhow, some useless thoughts:
- A-Rod really SHOULD be in the Home Run derby, Jason Stark is right.
- No SportsGuy for 10 weeks?? What the shit? That's great he's writing another book, but I don't want to read about the glory of Boston in book form. Essentially, he's taking ten weeks to piss me off.
- The Brett Favre saga is by far, the most thrilling development in off-season sports for me (besides LeBron saying that he loves New York City and that his favorite borough is Brooklyn). Wojciechowski wrote a great article on the subject, and I completely agree with him. But I don't think the Packers need to worry about their image and can say whatever the hell they want. Favre has done this to them how many years now? And every time he comes back, there is still no ring, only more headache and the knowledge that this will happen again the next off-season. Everyone talks about what will happen if Rodgers struggles...what about if Favre struggles and the team starts 2-4? Trust me, it can and very well could happen, and I would like to see all those red faces from the "re-instate Favre" rallies...
- Saying that the Yankees offense is "Anemic" is an insult to all the people suffering from Anemia. They won the game for Bobby Murcer (God rest his soul, a true gentleman, a true Yankee), but the next day they decided not to show up. I understand the emotion that day, but all the days leading up to that...they need an explanation.
- Could the Tour de France, Golf, Boxing, or Tennis be any less important without Lance, Tiger, or anyone with a remotely interesting personality? If Andy Roddick had the talent, he could have really saved Tennis. All of these sports are merely blips on my news feed at the moment.
- Can 50 Cent get any worse? I heard some rumor his next album will be called, "Self Destruction"...hasn't that already happened?
- All-Star week is underway in this fair city of mine, and it looks to be awesome. The world beat up on team USA in the futures game yesterday (not shocking). A-Rod, or any Yankee, not being the Derby is a sham. A complete and utter sham. Selig will somehow ruin this game, and you better believe, come hell or high water, we will see Mo' walk out to the mound to the tune of "Enter Sandman" in the All-Star game, in his house, no matter what the score is, and you better believe it will make me cry tears of joy, elation, and sorrow.
- As happy as I am to see the Rays no longer retaining 1st place in the AL East, I am angered that it is Boston now on top. However, in a rare situation, Boston and New York fans have united only in their hatred for the Rays...we'll see how this develops over the years.
I think that's it for now
-Jobimoto out
"Same time tomorrow, knuckle-heads"
1) Curveball 6 inches off the plate (swinging strike one)
2) Curveball 12 inches off the plate (swinging strike two)
3) Curveball 18 inches off the plate (swinging strike out)
But making fun of Soriano isn't fashionable now that he returned from injury and actually helped the Cubs before going back on the DL. Oh it was fashionable when they did better without him, but now, not so much...anyhow, some useless thoughts:
- A-Rod really SHOULD be in the Home Run derby, Jason Stark is right.
- No SportsGuy for 10 weeks?? What the shit? That's great he's writing another book, but I don't want to read about the glory of Boston in book form. Essentially, he's taking ten weeks to piss me off.
- The Brett Favre saga is by far, the most thrilling development in off-season sports for me (besides LeBron saying that he loves New York City and that his favorite borough is Brooklyn). Wojciechowski wrote a great article on the subject, and I completely agree with him. But I don't think the Packers need to worry about their image and can say whatever the hell they want. Favre has done this to them how many years now? And every time he comes back, there is still no ring, only more headache and the knowledge that this will happen again the next off-season. Everyone talks about what will happen if Rodgers struggles...what about if Favre struggles and the team starts 2-4? Trust me, it can and very well could happen, and I would like to see all those red faces from the "re-instate Favre" rallies...
- Saying that the Yankees offense is "Anemic" is an insult to all the people suffering from Anemia. They won the game for Bobby Murcer (God rest his soul, a true gentleman, a true Yankee), but the next day they decided not to show up. I understand the emotion that day, but all the days leading up to that...they need an explanation.
- Could the Tour de France, Golf, Boxing, or Tennis be any less important without Lance, Tiger, or anyone with a remotely interesting personality? If Andy Roddick had the talent, he could have really saved Tennis. All of these sports are merely blips on my news feed at the moment.
- Can 50 Cent get any worse? I heard some rumor his next album will be called, "Self Destruction"...hasn't that already happened?
- All-Star week is underway in this fair city of mine, and it looks to be awesome. The world beat up on team USA in the futures game yesterday (not shocking). A-Rod, or any Yankee, not being the Derby is a sham. A complete and utter sham. Selig will somehow ruin this game, and you better believe, come hell or high water, we will see Mo' walk out to the mound to the tune of "Enter Sandman" in the All-Star game, in his house, no matter what the score is, and you better believe it will make me cry tears of joy, elation, and sorrow.
- As happy as I am to see the Rays no longer retaining 1st place in the AL East, I am angered that it is Boston now on top. However, in a rare situation, Boston and New York fans have united only in their hatred for the Rays...we'll see how this develops over the years.
I think that's it for now
-Jobimoto out
"Same time tomorrow, knuckle-heads"
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Random notes
It's been forever and a day, so here's some quick hits, straight from the brain pocket.
- If you have the chance to pick up Beck's "Modern Guilt," do so, it's amazing. I was convinced that everyone only listened to Beck anymore because we thought we had to, as if it were our duty. But he has crafted a truly great album and blown my head to the back of the auditorium. Also, about half the tracks on Ratatat's new album, "LP3," are good. And of course, all of L'il Wayne's "Tha Carter III," still sucks.
- Jason Varitek was selected to the All-Star team and is batting .215 currently. This game is a sham. Also, tickets for this game are easily going for 900 bucks a pop. I was wondering if eight other people wanted to go in on a ticket with me and we could each see an inning.
- I almost kind of like the slant that Madonna has brainwashed A-Rod and that he is now part of her cult. If any dude is easily influenced by anything, it is this guy. I really need to sell him some snake-oil...
- There's an arms race going on in the NL Central...Sabathia, and now Harden. Watch this race, this one is going to be interesting. Either the Brewers, Cardinals, or Cubs are going to get squeezed out by some undeserving idiots from the NL West (though if the D'Backs can make it to the playoffs with above a .500 record, Haren and Webb are going to be nasty).
- They're making a movie out of Tucker Max's "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell." I will be there opening day, and my girlfriend will probably never speak to me again.
- Ashley Dupree is supposed to be getting some sort of reality show on MTV. This doesn't shock me. What does shock me is that she was trying to run a 10 million dollar lawsuit against the Girls Gone Wild guy for defamation of character. As he so eloquently put it, "It was preposterous to claim that I could somehow damage the reputation of a hooker."
God I love this country.
-Jobimoto out
"Eyes wider...WIDER!"
- If you have the chance to pick up Beck's "Modern Guilt," do so, it's amazing. I was convinced that everyone only listened to Beck anymore because we thought we had to, as if it were our duty. But he has crafted a truly great album and blown my head to the back of the auditorium. Also, about half the tracks on Ratatat's new album, "LP3," are good. And of course, all of L'il Wayne's "Tha Carter III," still sucks.
- Jason Varitek was selected to the All-Star team and is batting .215 currently. This game is a sham. Also, tickets for this game are easily going for 900 bucks a pop. I was wondering if eight other people wanted to go in on a ticket with me and we could each see an inning.
- I almost kind of like the slant that Madonna has brainwashed A-Rod and that he is now part of her cult. If any dude is easily influenced by anything, it is this guy. I really need to sell him some snake-oil...
- There's an arms race going on in the NL Central...Sabathia, and now Harden. Watch this race, this one is going to be interesting. Either the Brewers, Cardinals, or Cubs are going to get squeezed out by some undeserving idiots from the NL West (though if the D'Backs can make it to the playoffs with above a .500 record, Haren and Webb are going to be nasty).
- They're making a movie out of Tucker Max's "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell." I will be there opening day, and my girlfriend will probably never speak to me again.
- Ashley Dupree is supposed to be getting some sort of reality show on MTV. This doesn't shock me. What does shock me is that she was trying to run a 10 million dollar lawsuit against the Girls Gone Wild guy for defamation of character. As he so eloquently put it, "It was preposterous to claim that I could somehow damage the reputation of a hooker."
God I love this country.
-Jobimoto out
"Eyes wider...WIDER!"
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