And somewhere children shout. But there is no joy in Philly. Mighty Howard has struck out.
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Ryan Howard clearly didn’t read the late great umpire Durwood Merrill’s memoir “You’re out and you’re ugly too.”
In that book, Merrill said he had one response for batters who complained about a 3-2 called strike. “If it wasn’t a strike it was close enough. You think all these people paid their way in here to see you walk?”
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And perhaps apropos of nothing, but the Phillies payroll of almost $150 million? It will end up about the same amount of money Meg Whitman will spend on her California gubernatorial campaign.
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San Diego Padres pitcher Mat Lantos ridiculed the Giants late in the season by saying San Francisco had just gone out and “grabbed players from other teams.”
Well, sort of, except that the Padres themselves added Miguel Tejada and Ryan Ludwick. And more importantly the Phillies added Roy Oswalt, the Rangers added Cliff Lee, the Yankees (who wanted Lee) added Lance Berkman and Kerry Wood.
With all due respect, most playoff bound teams go shopping at Saks. The Giants went to the Rack and the Dollar Store.
(And as far as names, Ramirez, Lopez and Ross? Not exactly marquee talent. Not to mention Burrell who was picked up midseason, quite literally for almost nothing.)
Regarding Pat Burrell, who was flat out released by the Tampa Rays, at least they have a player on their payroll in the World Series.
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A tale of two LCS’s. The Rangers outscored the Yankees by 19 runs in their six games. The Giants won their LCS in six games by scoring 19 runs exactly. (The Phillies actually scored 20. But who’s counting?)
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NBA commissioner David Stern said that contracting (translation – eliminating) – some of the weaker teams could be a solution to the league’s financial problems. Which means the Timberwolves are likely on the list. When asked about how they felt about losing their NBA basketball team, fans in Minnesota responded “We have an NBA team?”
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Sacramento Kings fans are nervous that their team too could be contracted, leaving the area without a professional NBA basketball team. Clippers fans responded, “Welcome to our world.”
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If the Toronto Blue Jays ever make it back to the postseason would we still have to hear “God bless America”every seventh inning?
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Brett Favre apparently didn’t give up on Jenn Sterger after he left the Jets. According to the NY Post, Favre made a “recruiting call,” (how’s that for a PC term) to that former sideline reporter in 2009.
Who knew, despite all those interceptions, Brett’s most ill-conceived passes may have been off the field.
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Levi Johnston, the father of Sarah Palin’s grandson, told Bill Maher than he’s definitely running for mayor of Wasilla. Johnston also said he “is working on building a platform, although he didn’t offer specifics.”
Well, sounds like he’s already up to speed for sounding like an average politician.
Left Coast Sports Babe 