BASEBALL BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF
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Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Top of the 1st
BASEBALL BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF
This morning, throughout all of Billy-Ball-Land, baseball is breathing a little easier this morning. Why you ask? Has Barry B*nds said that for the good of the game 
he is retiring and going someplace to deflate his head (both literally and figuratively)? No, I’m afraid we’re not that lucky.
Has Bud Selig said that for the good of the game he is retiring and going 
someplace to receive Botox treatments? No, I’m afraid we’re not that lucky.
Have the Yankees risen from the dead? You got it, kids - they’re baaaaaack!
Why do I greet this news of the Yankees 10th straight victory with such delight? Why do I relish the fact that the Yanks are two games above .500 for the first time this season since they were 2-0? Why does the fact that the Yanks are now getting timely hitting from their entire roster and steady starting pitching and strong bullpen pitching bring me such pleasure? Because baseball needs the Yankees to be good…for so many reasons.
Let’s start by discussing the concept of evil. Karl Rove, the presidential architect, is the devil incarnate. He understands the power of evil. When all else 
was failing in W’s justification of our Iraq debacle, Rove instructed his hand puppet to say two words, “Saddam Hussein.” Everybody hates Saddam Hussein (no, that won’t be replacing “Raymond” on CBS in the fall) and as long as everybody was focused on hating Sadam, other mistakes were being ignored.
This is true in baseball as well. As long as baseball fans can focus and complain 
about the Yankees bloated budget and how they “buy success” they won’t pay attention to the penurious, inept owners in Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and Pittsburgh, all of whom are far worse for the game than King George.
Speaking about those communities, do you think they want a lousy Yankee team? They see enough horrid baseball 82 times a season. Last night, the Indians hosted and clobbered the Angels, 13-5. The Angels are legitimate contenders to win it all and yet, only 15,000 fans turned out at the Jake. This is less than half of the crowd that will come to see the Tribe face the Yankees. Okay the Indians aren’t doing well, but the numbers are no fluke. The first place Chicago White Sox had 
Jon Garland on the mound seeking to become the first White Sox pitcher to win his first eight starts since John Whitehead in 1935, and they drew just over 18,000 fans against the Rangers. Do you think they might draw at least twice when the Yanks come to town? (BTW: Garland won, 5-2).
Let’s move on to the concept of rivalries - baseball and the Red Sox need the Yankees. Do you think all those years Yankee fans cared about the woe-begotten Sox? Uh-uh. But when the Sox started playing well and winning divisions and (gasp!) championships the rivalry developed some meaning. You understand what I mean Knicks and Lakers fans?
Then there is the chant, first popularized at Fenway and now perpetuated at other ballparks - “Yankees S#ck!” That chant will quickly die out when others hear it and respond, “That’s true, good point.”
Yes, while “American Idol” could easily find a fawning replacement for Paula 
Abdul, the show would dramatically lose its appeal without Simon Cowell. Fans need his evil, but more importantly they need his excellence. Just like baseball needs the Yankees evil and their excellence.
So, go ahead e-mail your buddies, say it at the water-cooler, or share it with your bartenders - those **** Yankees two nights ago get a grand slam from Bernie Williams (wasn’t he supposed to be done?), and last night Jason Giambi 
hit a solo home run, singled twice and drove in three runs (wasn’t he supposed to be done?), and A-Rod hits his league-leading 13th homer (wasn’t he supposed to be overpaid?), and Carl Pavano pitched a five-hit shutout (wasn’t he supposed to be overrated?) and you know what else? The Yanks may be in fourth place, but they are only five back of the Orioles and it’s only May.
It’s only May, but two weeks it looked like it was going to be a long season writing about the Brewers.
Billy-Ball is breathing a sigh of relief.
Top of the 2nd
D-LOWE D-FEATS D-WILLIS
While Jon Garland was going 8-0 in the AL, Dontrelle Willis went 7-1 after the 
Dodgers and Derek Lowe beat the Marlins, 14-5 for just their second win in seven games. Willis entered the game with an 0-2 career record and a 15.43 ERA against the Dodgers, and proved that wasn’t a fluke by giving up four runs in the 1st. He simmered down (now) after that but it was too late as the Dodgers beat up on the Marlins bullpen in the 7th and 8th.
Plate umpire Sam Holbrook clearly wanted to try get back to the hotel for Letterman as he called 10 batters out on third strikes, including J.D Drew three times. Upon understanding Holbrook’s hurry, Drew struck out a fourth time swinging.
Top of the 3rd
THOMSON GIVES THE BRAVES THE FINGER
The Atlanta Braves placed pitcher John Thomson on the 15-day disabled list. The initial diagnosis was a strained flexor tendon of his right middle finger, but the Braves feared the tendon could be torn. Last night the Braves fell 3-2 to the Padres as Khalil Greene singled in the winning run with one out in the 9th.
If you haven’t been paying attention, the Padres have now won six straight and the 15 of 18 games and took sole possession of first place in the NL West..
Top of the 4th
TIGER TALES OF WOE
In case you have forgotten, the Detroit Tigers made two big splashes in the free agent market this past off-season signing closer Troy Percival (two years, $12 
million) and outfielder Magglio Ordonez (five years, $75 million). Percival is out at least four to six weeks with a torn muscle in his right forearm and Ordonez has just 10 at-bats this season and is out at least another month and a half following hernia surgery.
The cure for these ills is, of course, facing the Devil Rays. Last night, Ivan Rodriguez tied the score with a two-out single in the 9th, and Rondell White singled home the winning run in the 11th in Detroit's 4-3 victory.
Top of the 5th
PHILLIES MUST TRADE ABREU
The Phillies are so close to being awful but they are going to fall just short if they keep Bobby 
Abreu. Abreu hit his eighth homer in nine games, extended his hitting streak to 10 games, while driving in two runs (giving him an RBI in nine straight games. He's also scored a run in nine straight games) as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Cardinals, 7-5.
The rest of the Phils did their best to lead Ed Wade and Charlie Manuel into retirement by committing five errors. Third baseman David Bell made three errors, shortstop Jimmy Rollins had two. It was the Phillies' first five-error game since July 15, 2002.
Top of the 6th
CONTRACT YEARS
Just keep in mind that Florida's A.J. Burnett and the Angels’ Jarrod Washburn are both in their contract year and should command big bucks on the free agent market this off-season.
Hear that Yankee fans?
Top of the 7th
BILLY-BALL-A-GRAM - 5/18/2005
We have two for you today -
There are many birthday boys today, but obviously his is the only one that counts because he is the straw that stirs the drink.
JERK GOING ACES
I like you too.
BE ORNERY
BILLY-BALL-TRIVIA - 5/18/2005
How many times did Willie Mays lead the league in RBIs?
Send your answers to Bill@billy-ball.com
Bottom of the 7th
BILLY-BALL-A-GRAM ANSWER - 5/18/05
DIXIE WALKER
BILLY-BALL-TRIVIA-ANSWER - 5/18/05
Name the Cy Young Award winning pitcher who was cast as an intimidating slugger in the film “Major League?”
Pete Vuckovich
Top of the 8th
DID YOU KNOW?
Dodger Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully was named as baseball's all-time best announcer in the recently-released book "Voices of Summer," by Curt Smith. The book ranked baseball's all-time greatest 101 announcers by "longevity, continuity, network coverage, kudos, language, popularity, persona, voice knowledge and miscellany." Each criterion was rated from 1-10, with the perfect score being 100. Scully was the only broadcaster to reach that number.
Scully, who was also voted as the "Sportscaster of the 20th Century," by more than 500 national members of the American Sportscasters Association in 2000, is in his 56th season as "Voice of the Dodgers." His tenure of consecutive service is the longest of any sports broadcaster with one team and he has been named the country's Outstanding Sportscaster four times and California Sportscaster of the Year 24 times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. In 2001, the press box at Dodger Stadium was named in his honor.
There is not a sportscaster in this country who could not learn a thing or nine by listening to Scully broadcast a game.
Top of the 9th
AT LEAST THEY HAVE THEIR HEALTH
Last Wednesday, the Braves put reliever Kevin Gryboski on the disabled list with a viral infection, making him their first player all year to go on the DL. The last time they went nearly this 
long without an injury was 1995, the year they won the World Series. Ryan Klesko was the first on the DL that year with a thumb injury on May 3. Klesko, now with the Padres is trying to play through the pain a bulging disk. And, I thought he was just happy to see me.
Have a great day!
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