Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill pulled after 7 perfect innings. First time that has happened in the majors.
To his credit, I believe Dave Roberts did the right thing. Hill is obviously pitching great but has had numerous blister problems. Can’t take a chance of losing him for two weeks right now, perfect game or not. He told Roberts that he was feeling the blister coming back and got yanked without a second thought. Heartbreaking to see though.
ETA: Sports Illustraed quotes Hill as saying his finger felt fine, so who knows…
I was watching, and I was hoping for a chance to see history, but I think the managerial decision was the right one. I’m hoping the rest of the team gets that, because it’s not a good time to have the clubhouse fuming at the rookie manager.
I’m curious about where you came across the info on Hill mentioning the blister. I haven’t seen that anywhere, and it’s hard to imagine a pitcher in Hill’s position saying anything about his health when he’s in that position. To Hill’s credit, although he was clearly upset, he said all of the right things after the game. And honestly, if Hill had thought Roberts had no justification at all, you’d have seen him acting a whole lot angrier after he was pulled from the game, I think.
Hill also looked very calm and professional after he was pulled. Sure, he was upset. But there was no fuming, pouting, slamming of gear or any of that. He just went to stand next to Kershaw and watched the rest of the game.
For the record, I think Roberts made the right call as well. I’m sure he and Hunnicutt took everything into account and wouldn’t have pulled him otherwise. We need Hill badly, and to lose him to blisters at this point would be…not good.
I guess you missed him slamming his bat into the rack right after he was given the news. He also yelled a few profanities that didn’t require a lip-reading degree. Calmed down considerably after that though, then went over and stood by Kersh.
Are the Astros and Texans stadiums located near to each other? I hate it when the Cubs are the Sunday night game, but this one might be out of necessity since the Houston Texans are hosting the Chicago Bears this afternoon. I’d think otherwise for Sept. 11, ESPN would have moved the Yankees game to Sunday night.
Saw that. Read his lips, too. But it ended there, which was professional. I’m quite sure I wouldn’t have been so calm. I’d have been on a bus to Rancho Cucamonga before my replacement on the mound had finished his warm-up pitches.
Back to baseball, I’d almost forgotten how depressing September baseball can be.
Honestly, the Jays are playing some genuinely shitty baseball. If it was just that a few guys were in a slump at the same time that’d be a shrug of the shoulders; it happens. But they’re making a truly amazing number of mistakes for a Major League Baseball team.
Two weeks ago they were leading the division. At this point, they look like they’re going to miss the Wild Card game. They’re still in it as of today but look terrible and are being outplayed by everyone chasing them.
Because it was necessary, in the Grand Scheme of Things, that the Dodgers increase their lead over the Giants before hitting them for 7 games later this month and next.
Wow, what a turnaround. Two starts ago, Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker couldn’t get out of the 1st inning against the Angels. He’s apparently spent the time since working his ass off with pitching coach Mel Stottlemeyer, Jr.
It’s paid off. Once more against the Angels: Complete game shutout, 11 K’s 0 walks. Perfect through 5-2/3, no-hitter through 6. Kid was on fire!
Had my first trip to Yankee Stadium last night. A fun experience, except for the miserable offensive performance the Dodgers had. But I’m officially over the halfway mark now for seeing games in current stadiums. 16/30!
The Orioles went into Fenway and came away with a 2-1 series win, despite being outscored 15-9. Luckily for Baltimore, Boston got most of their scoring out of the way in the first game, which the Red Sox won 12-2.
That sort of sums up the two teams’ positions in the division. Boston has scored about 120 more runs than Baltimore, and given up about 20 fewer runs, but are only 1 game ahead. Based on expected W-L, the Red Sox should currently have a 7 or 8 game lead in the division.
In odd stats trivia, Orioles backup catcher Caleb Joseph is in the running to be the first player in Major League history, since the beginning of the RBI stat, to have a season of more than 100 at-bats without a single RBI. He’s currently had 124 at-bats, and has not yet batted in a run.
Seriously. I said not long ago the O’s were dropping back down to earth and I guess I was wrong. I can’t understand how they win. I really don’t think they’re that good of a team. Gausman pitched great last night, of course a ferocious wind helped. Only a solo blast by Mark Trumbo was the difference.
Even as an O’s fan, I don’t think this is a GREAT team or anything - I’d be pleasantly surprised if they make it far into the post-season. But they’re certainly at least a GOOD team. Monster offense. Great bullpen. Brilliant manager. The glaring weak/inconsistent spot is starting pitching, but they’ve been able to overcome that for the most part, and it could certainly be worse in any case.
Preller was suspended for thirty days as an assistant with the Rangers for illegal international player deals, and there are questions earlier in the year about the Padres’ trade of Colin Rea to Miami when he had to be sent back for medical reasons.
Wow. After the last three losses to Oakland (16-3, 5-4, 8-0), I thought the Royals had to have hit rock bottom, but nope, they’re digging deeper (14-0 after 7.5 innings). I wonder what’s the record for biggest run differential in a 4-game series, this (assuming the Royals don’t score a miraculous number of runs in the next two innings) has got to be up there.