Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers yesterday came EVER SO CLOSE to perfection. 26 up, 26 down. All he needed was one more out and he would have had a perfect game...
He didn't get it. The next batter grounded one right through his legs for the Astros first hit of the game. Another hit followed that. It was still a win, but potential immortality was left for another day. It was merely the best start of the early season.
Twins and Tigers play again this afternoon. The weather should be much nicer. The pitching for the Twins is expected to be much worse. It's only the second game of the season, and I already feel like the cause is lost. It's tough trying to be a Twins fan.
Maybe the Twins will win a slugfest? The season is just getting started. Unreasonable hope still abounds.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Heat Scorched By Melo and New York AT MIami
The Miami Heat have now lost two of their last three games. Their win streak is now even less impressive. They are 28-2 over their last 30 games. I'll say it another way. The Lakers 33 game win streak of 40 years ago is looking even better than it did.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Commentary
Since the Astros moved to the AL, inter-league play will now become common throughout the season. I'm thinking it's time for BOTH leagues to have the same rules. It's time to have the National League add the DH rule. They are the ONLY league anywhere that doesn't and it's going to negatively effect how they perform against their AL counterparts in the long-run.
It's no longer a matter of keeping a tradition alive, it's about giving National League teams an equal chance to effectively compete against the AL.
OUR DH is expected to hit 20 homeuns this year. An average National League DH, when games are played on AL fields, will be some utility infielder or second string outfielder. The advantage will be seen over time. Even now, the AL has a huge lead in wins with the short time inter-league play has been around.
I don't mind the Twins having every advantage they can get this year, but fair is fair. Baseball needs to have all of its teams playing the same game...
...even if traditionalists have a hard time letting go of the past. (cough...cough...Tom the Twins Fan...cough...cough.)
It's no longer a matter of keeping a tradition alive, it's about giving National League teams an equal chance to effectively compete against the AL.
OUR DH is expected to hit 20 homeuns this year. An average National League DH, when games are played on AL fields, will be some utility infielder or second string outfielder. The advantage will be seen over time. Even now, the AL has a huge lead in wins with the short time inter-league play has been around.
I don't mind the Twins having every advantage they can get this year, but fair is fair. Baseball needs to have all of its teams playing the same game...
...even if traditionalists have a hard time letting go of the past. (cough...cough...Tom the Twins Fan...cough...cough.)
Baseball Notes
The Nationals look like the superb team everybody expects. Phenom Bryce Harper hit TWO homeruns yesterday while their rested ace, Stephen Strasburg pitched seven shutout innings, at one point retiring 19 consecutive batters. IF he stays healthy, he is going to be one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game.
Another of the game's best pitchers, Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw, shutout the Giants yesterday AND hit a homerun for good measure. It's so cool knowing that great pitching is still out there, even if none of it is anywhere near the Twins.
The Twins are tied for last place in the division after one day of play. Expect them to be around that spot all season.
Another of the game's best pitchers, Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw, shutout the Giants yesterday AND hit a homerun for good measure. It's so cool knowing that great pitching is still out there, even if none of it is anywhere near the Twins.
The Twins are tied for last place in the division after one day of play. Expect them to be around that spot all season.
Worley NOT Horrible in Loss
Vance Worley had a couple of bad innings early, but managed to give up only three runs in six innings of work. I'll take that from any Twins starter at this point. He also induced a ton of ground ball outs and only walked ONE. I see now why the Twins like him a lot more than I do.
On the flip side, Justin Verlander looked like the best pitcher in baseball, which coincidently makes sense since he probably is. I turned the game off for awhile after the Twins got down early. I figured Veleander wouldn't be going the whole game and just maybe the Twins would mount a rally when Verlander left.
They did but it wasn't enough.
Not a horrible game by any standard. The Twins officially sold-out the game, but there were thousands of empty seats. Fans say they want outdoor baseball, but in reality cold weather kept many of them away. Wenesday's game should be much warmer.
Sadly, the pitching for the Twins the next two games will probably be much worse. Time will tell. And I'll still be watching for a while longer.
On the flip side, Justin Verlander looked like the best pitcher in baseball, which coincidently makes sense since he probably is. I turned the game off for awhile after the Twins got down early. I figured Veleander wouldn't be going the whole game and just maybe the Twins would mount a rally when Verlander left.
They did but it wasn't enough.
Not a horrible game by any standard. The Twins officially sold-out the game, but there were thousands of empty seats. Fans say they want outdoor baseball, but in reality cold weather kept many of them away. Wenesday's game should be much warmer.
Sadly, the pitching for the Twins the next two games will probably be much worse. Time will tell. And I'll still be watching for a while longer.
Monday, April 1, 2013
NCCA Basketball Ratings
I'm still not quite sure where "Madness" fits into the title of the NCAA championships. Now that CBS has all the games to themselves, you would think that if madness were truly afoot that tens of millions would be watching these games. I mean the Final Four was determined this weekend and CBS only managed an average of about 6 million viewers Friday night.
To put that in perspective, that's what an average new episode of Pawn Stars gets on the History Channel on cable on Monday Nights. Vince McMahan and his WWE RAW wrestling show on USA Network Monday nights gets an average of 5 million viewers for their three hours. No one calls those "Madness" ratings. If anything Vince is DOWN from his "heyday" years of a decade ago when he was averaging nine million viewers every Monday. The hottest regular show on cable this year? Duck Dynasty. They get a whopping 8 million viewers every week when new episodes are broadcast. People who make duck calls for a living get 33% more viewers than the NCAA's finest BB players?
Madness? I think the numbers speak for themselves.
Five million viewers is what CBS averaged on Thursday night. What's madness to me is that CBS would preempt their normal Thursday night lineup to make room for college basketball. Bing Bang Theory is the top comedy show on television. It averages OVER 15 million viewers every time they show a new episode. Person of Interest brings in 13 million. Elementary averages 11 million.
A regular season college football game on ABC Saturday night during the fall will average over 15 million viewers. Not the bowl games, mind you, just the normal top teams playing each other to determine the two teams who will play in the National Championship game MONTHS later.
THOSE are big television numbers in this era of TV viewing. The Madness games don't really do anything ratings-wise until NEXT weekend. The semi-finals and finals will do well, but they would even without all of the inflated hype of the previous couple weekends.
I don't begrudge those who watch the games and enjoy them, but the ratings show that there just aren't many people who actually DO watch and enjoy them.
At it's peak, American idol averaged over 30 million a viewers a week for several seasons. This week, on Thursday night, they had their lowest viewership since their first season. They are in their death spiral. Their viewers? 11 million. Or about what CBS got for BOTH Thursday AND Friday night combined for their basketball games.
What madness is this?
To put that in perspective, that's what an average new episode of Pawn Stars gets on the History Channel on cable on Monday Nights. Vince McMahan and his WWE RAW wrestling show on USA Network Monday nights gets an average of 5 million viewers for their three hours. No one calls those "Madness" ratings. If anything Vince is DOWN from his "heyday" years of a decade ago when he was averaging nine million viewers every Monday. The hottest regular show on cable this year? Duck Dynasty. They get a whopping 8 million viewers every week when new episodes are broadcast. People who make duck calls for a living get 33% more viewers than the NCAA's finest BB players?
Madness? I think the numbers speak for themselves.
Five million viewers is what CBS averaged on Thursday night. What's madness to me is that CBS would preempt their normal Thursday night lineup to make room for college basketball. Bing Bang Theory is the top comedy show on television. It averages OVER 15 million viewers every time they show a new episode. Person of Interest brings in 13 million. Elementary averages 11 million.
A regular season college football game on ABC Saturday night during the fall will average over 15 million viewers. Not the bowl games, mind you, just the normal top teams playing each other to determine the two teams who will play in the National Championship game MONTHS later.
THOSE are big television numbers in this era of TV viewing. The Madness games don't really do anything ratings-wise until NEXT weekend. The semi-finals and finals will do well, but they would even without all of the inflated hype of the previous couple weekends.
I don't begrudge those who watch the games and enjoy them, but the ratings show that there just aren't many people who actually DO watch and enjoy them.
At it's peak, American idol averaged over 30 million a viewers a week for several seasons. This week, on Thursday night, they had their lowest viewership since their first season. They are in their death spiral. Their viewers? 11 million. Or about what CBS got for BOTH Thursday AND Friday night combined for their basketball games.
What madness is this?
Twins and Tigers This Afternoon
It's going to be cold. Worley vs. Verlander.
The Astros made a superb American League debut last night against Texas, besting them 8-2. It's just one game. Thousands more are coming over the next 6 months. Sill wishing I was more excited, and hoping somehow that the Twins pitching is way better than projected.
The Astros made a superb American League debut last night against Texas, besting them 8-2. It's just one game. Thousands more are coming over the next 6 months. Sill wishing I was more excited, and hoping somehow that the Twins pitching is way better than projected.
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