# Baseball July 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [July 2, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737 "2009-07-02T20:43:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/281 "2009-07-23T12:19:41Z")
Ouch. Rough series for the Cards, complete with the Return of the Blown Save. At least De Rosa was hitting. That’s good to see. At the All-Star break, I was so sure that the Cubs were adrift, and now here they are just a game out of first. Crud. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/282 "2009-07-23T14:02:11Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Ouch. Rough series for the Cards, complete with the Return of the Blown Save. At least De Rosa was hitting. That’s good to see. At the All-Star break, I was so sure that the Cubs were adrift, and now here they are just a game out of first. Crud. You need to be a temporary Reds fan starting tomorrow, then…we have the Cubs on deck. The way our pitching has failed miserably in the last month, I won’t hold my breath though. Even if we sweep and everyone else loses, we’d just be muddying the NL Central waters a bit. The Reds are pretenders this year, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/283 "2009-07-23T15:06:27Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Curse you, Manny Ramirez!!! > > :mad: Wasn’t that pretty? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/284 "2009-07-23T15:21:43Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Wasn’t that pretty? 😛 Note to Homer Bailey: if you’re trying to break a guy’s hand, actually break it, don’t just piss him off! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/285 "2009-07-23T16:07:05Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I wish Duncan well. If his problems are just medical, he’ll be fine. If he has trouble with handling fan and game pressure, he won’t. > [@](#): > > I don’t know squat about Lugo. He’s another guy who needed a change of scenery. Decent hitter, nothing special. Subpar defensively at SS, cost the team a few games, but too proud/stubborn to move, or even to accept that he wasn’t a starter anymore. Might be OK off the bench or at another position if he faces his status squarely. His silly contract, born of the Boston front office being unable to scout/assess shortstops at all, played into his attitude. > [@](#): > > I think Boston is paying the rest of his salary this year His deal runs through next year, and doubtless the Sox are paying most of it. > [@](#): > > plugging him in is worth a try. Maybe this lets the team move Schmaker back to the outfield and deal Ankiel? Good luck. Hey, Joel Pineiro looked absolutely useless in Boston and things worked out for him anyway in STL, so there’s precedent. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/286 "2009-07-23T16:58:06Z")
Damn Tigers have lost three 2 to 1 games since the break. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/287 "2009-07-23T17:04:04Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Note to Homer Bailey: if you’re trying to break a guy’s hand, actually break it, don’t just piss him off! > > 🙂 Manny probably has just enough steroids left in his system to have a pitch like that bounce off of him harmlessly. Y’all should’ve known better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/288 "2009-07-23T17:18:49Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Manny probably has just enough steroids left in his system to have a pitch like that bounce off of him harmlessly. Y’all should’ve known better. 🙂 What an embarrasing series for the Reds. They’re toast and you guys are the best team in baseball. Hats off to the LA Dodgers. Too bad the Reds and Dodgers don’t have the rivalry they once had back when the divisions were structured differently. They used to have a pretty good one going. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/289 "2009-07-23T17:25:14Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > If his problems are just medical, he’ll be fine. If he has trouble with handling fan and game pressure, he won’t. I don’t know what Duncan’s problems are. When he first started in St. Louis, it looked like he might be a decent power hitter (albeit sub-par defensively, at least in the outfield, since “his” position at first base was already more-than-adequately filled). In 2007 and 2008 he struggled due to injury/health issues. This year, he’s supposedly healthy, and his defense has improved somewhat, but offensively he’s been a real disappointment. > [@](#): > > He’s another guy who needed a change of scenery. Decent hitter, nothing special. Subpar defensively at SS, cost the team a few games, but too proud/stubborn to move, or even to accept that he wasn’t a starter anymore. Might be OK off the bench or at another position if he faces his status squarely. His silly contract, born of the Boston front office being unable to scout/assess shortstops at all, played into his attitude. I don’t see how the Cardinals think he’d fit into their organization. Brendan Ryan’s been playing good SS lately, and “too proud/stubborn to move, or even to accept that he wasn’t a starter anymore” doesn’t sound like Tony La Russa’s favorite kind of player to manage. ---
**Author:** ![Starbreaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@Starbreaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbreaker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/290 "2009-07-23T18:23:02Z")
I really want to see the Braves sweep the Giants today. 1-1 in the 4th, so things are looking good. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/291 "2009-07-23T18:25:32Z")
I just read today that the Giants haven’t hit a HR since July 12…when Lincecum gives up 4 runs (like he did last night) this team doesn’t have a prayer. They need to trade for a legitimate cleanup hitter. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/292 "2009-07-23T19:26:29Z")
Barry Bonds is available. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/293 "2009-07-23T19:38:03Z")
> [@Starbreaker](#): > > I really want to see the Braves sweep the Giants today. 1-1 in the 4th, so things are looking good. Giants just took the lead on 3 infield hits. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/294 "2009-07-23T20:00:42Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Damn Tigers have lost three 2 to 1 games since the break. Make that four 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/295 "2009-07-23T20:17:32Z")
Tip of the hat to [Mark Buerhle](http://espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=290723104) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/296 "2009-07-23T20:28:19Z")
I am not even in the ballpark of a Sox fan, but I had my whole family in front of the TV rooting for him. Kudos to ESPN for cutting in and letting me watch, and once that last out happened we all cheered. Good job Mark, good job!!! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/297 "2009-07-23T20:42:13Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Tip of the hat to [Mark Buerhle](http://espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=290723104) Wow. Perfect game. Good for him. Wise’s [catch](http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5699065) in the ninth to preserve the perfect game was amazing. The only downside is that it made that asshole Hawk Harrelson happy. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/298 "2009-07-23T23:12:35Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Wow. Perfect game. Good for him. Wise’s [catch](http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5699065) in the ninth to preserve the perfect game was amazing. > > The only downside is that it made that asshole Hawk Harrelson happy. That [MLB.com](http://MLB.com) video quality is scary good. Good job Buerhle! Always a fan of the perfect game! Was Randy Johnson’s PG in 2004 the last one? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/299 "2009-07-24T00:02:03Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > That [MLB.com](http://MLB.com) video quality is scary good. Good job Buerhle! > > Always a fan of the perfect game! > > Was Randy Johnson’s PG in 2004 the last one? It was. I was at Angels Stadium that day, and showed up early. When Johnson got close to the perfecto, still well before the Angels-Yankees game was about to start, they put it up on the big screen, and everyone in the park went nuts when he got it. There’s another great thing about baseball. Its fans appreciate BASEBALL, and can appreciate excellence achieved for any team. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/300 "2009-07-24T01:12:31Z")
Wise robbed Kapler of a home run. I hate when that happens, but it seemed appropriate today. Rays should have taken the first and third game of this series, instead they lost three. Didn’t stand a chance today. Congrats to Buerhle on an amazing game and Wise on an exciting catch to punctuate it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737.md?page=16)