Extra Chances

That game was all kinds of fun. A complete textbook Bautista to Hill to Molina throw to get Aubrey Huff at the plate. The relay play, when done correctly, is one of the prettiest plays in the whole game and for whatever reason makes me think of playoff baseball. The star of the game was Encarnacion who not only provided all the offense but a very nifty defensive play to end the game.

Remember Jason Phillips? Back up catcher with glasses? John Gibbons really liked him? Well, he's not on a big league roster anymore but he did get a job as a bullpen catcher for the Mariners. He also got himself a wife. He is doing his job in the 'pen. A girl in the stands catches his eye. He writes his number on a ball and tosses it up to her, telling her to text him later. The game goes 15 innings. Phillips goes back to the clubhouse, checks his phone. She's texted him back. So what happened?

Well, they got married last week. In the bullpen.

Which to some would be sweet and to others saccharine.

What is universally sweet, however, is the return of Pink. Round. Efficient. 3 hits. No walks. 7 1/3 innings. No runs. All you need to know about that. Except Aaron Hill, refusing to hit yet another popup, instead hit it long and deep.

Matt Cain, starting pitcher for the Giants, said this, "These guys can beat you with the long ball. You can't give these guys extra chances. I did, and it cost us." It's nice he reminded us, cause after that road trip, this team seemed less than likely to strike fear in any pitcher.

Manny Ramirez came back to Fenway, to be cheerbooed on Friday night. I watched him strike out looking (he was totally fooled) and it was a bit brutal. But today Manny hit a homer, according to his nature. Dodgers still lost. We won 2 of 3 from the Padres, and you guys do this? Thanks for nothing.

One of my favourite Manny as Dodger stories was about Joe Torre and Manny's hair. Torre calls Manny into his office. Manny sits down and says, "This is about my hair, isn't it?" And Torre says, "It's a lot, you gotta tone it down a bit." Manny argues, "But it's my strength!!" and Torre replies, "Manny, if I believed that, I would've had people break into your room and shave you bald when you were a Sock, you burned us so many times."