World Series game 5 pregame random thoughts: It's David Eckstein's world, we're just living in it. According to SI, anyway
When did David Eckstein become the poster boy for all that is supposedly good in baseball? Did he have a nice, if lucky, game last night? Unquestionably. But, come on, the praise is going over the top. For a prime example, just read the deep, sloppy french kiss that was Tom Verducci's SI.com column on Eckstein. It was such a fluff job that Verducci had to be wearing knee pads while writing it. Just check out the opening...
Should you ever lose your faith in baseball, or simply the belief that what is possible is limited only by your imagination, just roll the tape of David Eckstein batting against Joel Zumaya in the eighth inning of a tied World Series Game 4 on Thursday night. What is most beautiful about baseball -- its timeless democracy, giving opportunity to all -- was reaffirmed in that one Series-changing at-bat. It defined not only Eckstein, but an entire Cardinals team that has rebounded from a September collapse that threatened to out-bomb the '64 Phillies all the way to within one win from the franchise's first world championship is almost a quarter of a century.
Think that was bad? Hardly. Before you continue reading, best take your insulin shot, as the saccarine fawning continues...
And somewhere there is another guy in the minors this October, or a small college or high school or a 10-year-old youth team or anybody down the baseball ladder who looks at Eckstein and sees the tremendous stature of the man. With one more win, Eckstein will have served as the starting shortstop and leadoff hitter for two world championship teams. Now that makes him a very big man in the history of the game.
Dude, get a room. Jesus... You'd think Eckstein, who couldn't carry Carlos Guillen's jock, by the way, was the next coming Honus Wagner and Jesus Christ combined, and was placed on earth to save us all. From what? Bad sportswriting? It's the typical media overreaction when it comes to "Scrappy" white guys with limited talent who run to first base when they take a base on balls.
Sound like I have sour grapes? Maybe...
Things became more clear though, as it turns out Verducci was watching a totally different game than the rest of us...
Tigers centerfielder Curtis Granderson turned a routine out -- by that pest Eckstein, of course -- into a rally-starting double when he flat out fell in centerfield, as if tripping over a curb somebody just happened to freshly lay in the outfield.
That statement is too stupid to even put into words... I never send emails to columnists, but I had to send Verducci a quick note...
Tom,
I have a couple of quick questions. You said that Granderson "Flat out fell." Were you watching the same game as me? Or didn't you see the divot in the outfield that Granderson's foot left as the ground gave way while he "Tripped over a curb?" Just asking...
Big Al
Anyone else think Tony LaRussa is doing Jim Leyland a solid by starting Jeff Weaver? Me too.
Fox was up to their typically lame shenanigans last night. Sam at Roar of the Tigers was freaked out by Scooter and the Jeff Suppan Floating Head.
OK, and did this HAVE to be the game where Scooter made his triumphant return to television? Isn’t that just adding insult to injury? And can someone explain to me why Jeannie Zelasko, in the process of ‘introducing’ Scooter, said both that he was “back by popular demand” and that he had been “you know, in the pineapple under the sea.” First off, what FREAK OF NATURE was demanding that Scooter be brought back? Secondly, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO MAKE OF THIS HINT THAT SCOOTER HAD BEEN HANGING OUT WITH SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS IN HIS FREE TIME??? Was anyone else as completely blown away by that offhand remark as I was? WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN!
And as if Scooter by himself isn’t bad enough, we also had to deal with JEFF SUPPAN’S FLOATING HEAD NARRATING SCOOTER. This was completely and utterly terrifying and I cannot have been the only one screaming in terror when this happened.
No Sam, you weren't...
Tim McCarver never ceases to amaze. When McCarver was talking about a Cards reliever last night, and he came up with the twisted brilliance that was, “His curveball is his fastball,” my head exploded. Literally.
As much as I bitch about the awful media coverage of the World Series, I have to be honest. I'd much prefer to see more media slop over the weekend, the Tigers and Justin Verlander's arm, permitting...
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