Belief and Spots
Canadians in Las Vegas celebrating Vancouver in the Stanley Cup finals, taken and then posted by Brett Cecil. Let's take a closer look. Let's completely ignore the fact that Lawrie's left hand looks like he's about to turn into the Eddie Murphy version of the Nutty Professor.
Notice that Loewen thinks his heart is in his diaphragm and that Lawrie thinks it's under his collarbone. And that they are all clearly showing off for the Americans, because we don't put our hands over our hearts for our anthem. Notice the wall unit air conditioning and the sad couches and the empty Gatorade. Notice Travis Snider's Las Vegas socks match perfectly to the Canuck jerseys. Notice Travis Snider is eating a freezie (I think.) Notice Travis Snider's calf muscle. Notice Travis Snider.
I was contemplating a complete overhaul of my devotion to this game last night. The early innings of that game were so ugly, they reminded me of Brett Lawrie's left hand. That was easily the worst start of Drabek's young career. It is forgivable as he is so young, but it was also completely painful to watch Drabek try in vain to throw strikes and be down 4 runs and out of the game after 2/3 of an inning. At the time I felt it was a little early, but about 10 minutes later, I was on board with Farrell.
So what's your deal, Kyle?
And so then it was up to the bullpen to hold it down. Except early on, they just inflated their ERA until it was 12-0 and the defense had committed two errors. And that's when I went outside for a bit.
“This is absolutely the worst start I've ever had,” said Drabek. “Never in my whole life have I never gone at least an inning. It's just one of those things I have to forget about.”
So what's your deal, Kyle?
“Just leaving a few pitches down the middle and just continuing with walking people. That's really what it came down and that's what I need to stop. I believe in my stuff, I can't hit my spots right now.”
Alan Ashby made a very good point on the radio broadcast about preparation. What the hell is going on in the pre-game throwing session if ten minutes later, the pitcher can't throw strikes?
And so then it was up to the bullpen to hold it down. Except early on, they just inflated their ERA until it was 12-0 and the defense had committed two errors. And that's when I went outside for a bit.
The offense woke up in the later innings. Rajai Davis, who committed one of those errors, hit a 3-run homer and then an RBI triple. To take the game from 12-0 to 13-9 shows that this team can still score runs. And also that this game featured some all around crappy, crappy pitching.