Opening Day Thrills
It didn’t take long for me to realize that baseball is a game of bullpens and you better have a good one.
How about Ozzie Guillen and the Chicago White Sox?
The new manager of the Sox is in for a long season.
Short reliever Cliff Politte closed the seventh and eighth for Guillen before the new manager inexplicably ran him out there for the ninth inning with a 7-3 lead.
Politte walked the first two batters in the ninth, Billy Koch added fuel to the fire, then Damaso Marte gave up two homers, the first a three run shot by Mendy Lopez tied the game 7-7, then Carlos Beltran ended it with a two run jack to win it 9-7.
Tough opening day for the Sox. The Royals will have many games like this because starter Brian Anderson got hit hard (KC pitching is suspect), but KC can smack the ball which they did in their six run ninth to win a game the Sox had in the bank.
More baseball below!The A’s got a big hit from Eric Byrnes off Texas reliever Ron Mahay who was trying to hold a 4-3 Ranger lead in the eighth.
The game turned when Erubiel Durazo singled off Jeff Nelson in the eighth, then Eric Karros got the key hit, a single off Nelson to set the stage for Byrnes.
Ken Macha sent Billy McMillon up to pinch hit against Nelson, Buck Showalter countered with lefty Mahay, Macha countered with Byrnes for McMillon and the rest is history.
Texas let this one get away, but really the A’s just beat whomever Texas put on the mound with good hitting.
Arthur Rhodes closed the ninth for Oakland. Rhodes benefited from a very nice play by second baseman Marco Scutaro which saved a hit. The play became bigger in the inning when Rhodes gave up another single, before punching out Kevin Mench to end the 5-4 win.
Oakland bullpen comes through (except for Chris Hammond), Texas gives it up. A’s win.
Think anyone remembers that Tim Hudson and Kenny Rogers started the game.
Cleveland was sailing along behind CC Sabathia before its bullpen frittered away a 4-0 lead, eventually losing the game 7-4 on Shannon Stewart’s homer in the 11th.
Minnesota bullpen a plus, Cleveland bullpen tagged with the loss.
Dusty Baker got four shutout innings from his pen saving Kerry Wood’s shaky start. Mike Wuertz, a terrific righty, Kent Mercker, Kyle Farnsworth, and then Joe Borowski (I don’t know how he gets batters out) ended it against the Reds saving the 7-4 win.
Houston. Ah what a story this is.
How many times have I seen a manager pitch to Barry Bonds with the game on the line.
Jimy Williams did it last night and Bonds burned him. Three run two out eighth inning homer ties score 4-4.
Octavio Dotel, probably over amped in his first game as the Houston closer let it get away in the ninth, while Matt Herges continued his excellent relief work for the Giants to save the game.
Two different results for two bullpens.
Good opening day.
Today, the Eddie Guardado-less Mariners pen gets into action against the lefty-less Angel bullpen.
The Yankees are back in action against Tampa Bay and we get to see Chan Ho Park melt down once again in Oakland tonight against the A’s.
161 to go.
Bullpens, you can’t win without one.
0 comments
Marty
After seeing the ML results last nite I was thiniking the same thing about the importance of bullpens.
The A’s are going to have a big decision to make regarding their pen soon. Do they keep the erratic, hard throwing, Harville or soft tossing, strike machine, Duke? I feel like Duke like you do about Borowski – he just keeps getting people out.
I think the A’s will prefer to have a little heat in a pen lacking in that department.
What I’d like to see is Harden groomed in AAA to setup or close instead of start and try Duke at the 5 starter spot. I know, I know, not gonna happen.
Good start for the A’s and J.Dye.
Reno Bill
I was impressedwith the new A’a outfield. Bobby Kielty
had 2 hits and Jermaine Dye looked like he may be
back. 3 infielders are new as is the catcher and the club had a whole new feel to it. The pitching was good
except for the 2 run dinger that Hammond gave up to
Texeira. Hudson was not his usual sharp self and labored a bit. He should be tougher as the season goes on.
The Giants played a thriller in Houston. The astros
had 2 batters called out on balls that were fair and the
hitters thought they were foul. Unusual to see one but 2 in a game. wow.
Bonds vs Pettitte tonight. great matchup.
Kansas City and Minnesota great wins and as the
late Mel Allen would say “how ’bout those Tigers”
Jerry F
Hudson sure looked shaky. He was giving us cold fans little reason to get excited. Maybe the cold bothered him too.
Hey Marty, what is Hammond’s role exactly? I don’t think he should pitch more than one inning. Hitters begin to time him and hit him hard, like Texiera. I can’t believe Macha put him out there for more than 2 innings. What do you think Hammon’s role should be?
-Mike E.
Hammond is a one inning pitcher unless the game is out of hand. He is best in situations with anxious hitters like Soriano who can’t time his changeup. If he keeps the ball down and away from righties he can be difficult to hit. The pitch to Texiera was set on a tee and he didn’t miss it.
Marty
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