Thursday, July 01, 2004
"SURE, WHY NOT?"
On this Canada Day 2004, I'd like to thank the folks up north for the great game of hockey, Rush, and beer.
Oh, and Don Cherry as well.
Anyways, what a day in Seattle sports, eh? A youth movement at Safeco Field? That doesn't involve Hamtaro videos and foam fingers? YEAH! YEAH!YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Travis Blackley gets called up to the big show and earns his first Major League victory. Of course, I would have taken him out after 5 innings, to let the kid go out with just one run allowed. But I digress.
The game was not televised in the Seattle area, but I watched it on Fox Sports Southwest in the white walled confines of Southeast Arkansas College. Yes, school in the summertime, school in the summertime! Rangers analyst Tom Grieve is solid, but he sure made himself sound stupid today. He said in the 5th inning that he wasn't impressed with Blackley's stuff, but when Blackley struck out Ken Huckaby, Grieve said that he should just shut up. An analyst with some humor, I love it. Good humor, I might add. It sure beats listening to Dave Henderson and Dave Valle. At least Grieve doesn't add a "y" to everybody's name.
Back to the game...
Blackley went through the Rangers lineup the first time 9 up, 9 down. But he allowed a leadoff Michael Young double in the top of the 4th. Blackley would allow just one run in the fourth, when it could have been worse. He looked very composed out there, which is nice to see from a 21-year old pitcher. Yes, he's only 21.
As far as composure goes, it helps to have some run support. Ask Freddy Garcia if he would have loved to have had the run support Blackley had today. Of course, in his first start with the White Sox Wednesday night, Garcia was drenched with run support, 9 runs to be exact. However, don't expect Garcia's hat to be drenched until next week, when he finally pitches under the hot Chicago sun.
The youth movement doesn't end with Blackley. Jeff's boy Justin Leone was called up today when newly acquired catcher Miguel Olivo was placed on the DL, recovering from a kidney stone. Please God don't let me have a kidney stone. It sounds painful enough just typing the term "kidney stone".
The M's are off to St. Louis for the Fourth of July weekend. During the offseason, I had considered going up to the Gateway City to see the M's, but I'm staying home for the weekend. Oh well, I hope to visit St. Louis next summer, maybe for a Cubs-Cardinals series, who knows?
Not only will I miss out on the Mariners/Cardinals series, I'll also miss out on the free concerts this weekend in downtown St. Louis. I heard that Isaac Hayes and Saliva are performing this weekend in the STL. Damn.
Happy Canada Day and crank up the Rush, Loverboy, Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven, Gordon Lightfoot, Glass Tiger, or whatever Canadian musician(s) you can think of.
I'll have my 2004 MLB All-Star teams up later on tonight. Or tomorrow. It will be here though.
Oh, and Don Cherry as well.
Anyways, what a day in Seattle sports, eh? A youth movement at Safeco Field? That doesn't involve Hamtaro videos and foam fingers? YEAH! YEAH!YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Travis Blackley gets called up to the big show and earns his first Major League victory. Of course, I would have taken him out after 5 innings, to let the kid go out with just one run allowed. But I digress.
The game was not televised in the Seattle area, but I watched it on Fox Sports Southwest in the white walled confines of Southeast Arkansas College. Yes, school in the summertime, school in the summertime! Rangers analyst Tom Grieve is solid, but he sure made himself sound stupid today. He said in the 5th inning that he wasn't impressed with Blackley's stuff, but when Blackley struck out Ken Huckaby, Grieve said that he should just shut up. An analyst with some humor, I love it. Good humor, I might add. It sure beats listening to Dave Henderson and Dave Valle. At least Grieve doesn't add a "y" to everybody's name.
Back to the game...
Blackley went through the Rangers lineup the first time 9 up, 9 down. But he allowed a leadoff Michael Young double in the top of the 4th. Blackley would allow just one run in the fourth, when it could have been worse. He looked very composed out there, which is nice to see from a 21-year old pitcher. Yes, he's only 21.
As far as composure goes, it helps to have some run support. Ask Freddy Garcia if he would have loved to have had the run support Blackley had today. Of course, in his first start with the White Sox Wednesday night, Garcia was drenched with run support, 9 runs to be exact. However, don't expect Garcia's hat to be drenched until next week, when he finally pitches under the hot Chicago sun.
The youth movement doesn't end with Blackley. Jeff's boy Justin Leone was called up today when newly acquired catcher Miguel Olivo was placed on the DL, recovering from a kidney stone. Please God don't let me have a kidney stone. It sounds painful enough just typing the term "kidney stone".
The M's are off to St. Louis for the Fourth of July weekend. During the offseason, I had considered going up to the Gateway City to see the M's, but I'm staying home for the weekend. Oh well, I hope to visit St. Louis next summer, maybe for a Cubs-Cardinals series, who knows?
Not only will I miss out on the Mariners/Cardinals series, I'll also miss out on the free concerts this weekend in downtown St. Louis. I heard that Isaac Hayes and Saliva are performing this weekend in the STL. Damn.
Happy Canada Day and crank up the Rush, Loverboy, Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven, Gordon Lightfoot, Glass Tiger, or whatever Canadian musician(s) you can think of.
I'll have my 2004 MLB All-Star teams up later on tonight. Or tomorrow. It will be here though.
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