June 27, 2006
HE HITS SO FAR:
You can’t pitch to Papi (John Tomase, June 27, 2006, Boston Herald)
Perhaps it’s not our place to offer the following advice, but apparently, the rest of Major League Baseball isn’t getting the hint, so we’ll just say it:
For the love of all that is holy, pitch to Manny.
We have officially reached the point where facing David Ortiz with the game on the line equals not only waving the white flag but providing a detailed map back to your hideout, where the antiquities have been boxed to expedite the looting process. Total annihilation is guaranteed. [...]
Seriously. Next time they should just balk the winning run around the bases and get it over with.
“I was saying on the bench, if you don’t pitch to David in the 11th because you’re afraid he’s going to beat you, why pitch to him in the 12th?” said Red Sox second baseman Alex Cora, referring to an earlier Ortiz walk. “I guess (Phillies manager) Charlie (Manuel) knows Manny. It’s tough.”
Sure, Manny's the best right-handed hitter in baseball, but David Ortiz would appear to have given Lola what she wants. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 27, 2006 7:59 AM
I vaguely think I understand what this is all about. Throwing balls instead of over the plate so the batter will walk because if he gets a hit in, it's too risky?
That strategy always seemed like cheating to me. Like faking an injury in baseball. If you're too cowardly to throw a fair pitch at a batter, why are you even playing?
Posted by: RC at June 27, 2006 8:13 AMMy nine year old was outraged that they intentionally walked Manny.
Posted by: oj at June 27, 2006 8:22 AMYour raised him well then.
And I meant, like faking an injury in soccer. Oops.
Posted by: RC at June 27, 2006 9:22 AMBrett Myers would be in a lot better situation with Phillies fans, public relations-wise, if he had beaten up Charlie Manuel on Monday for pitching to Ortiz two games in a row in extra innings instead of slapping his wife around in public last weekend.
Posted by: John at June 27, 2006 9:51 AMReading the sports section this morning there was apparently a soccer game yesterday where everyone realizes the Italians were given the game by the refs. No wonder the game is only popular where folks believe juju controls fate.
Posted by: oj at June 27, 2006 10:04 AMNot only that, but the losing team is known as the "Socceroos." I think that's meant to resemble "screw loose," but I'm not entirely sure.
Posted by: pj at June 27, 2006 10:27 AM