Quick Thought (Mike)
I'm done with my work a little ahead of schedule for tonight, and I haven't written for a while, so I thought I'd jot down some thoughts. The next couple of weeks are going to be hectic, as well, please forgive a slower pace.
I caught parts of the World Series last night, including Jose Vizcaino's single to tie it in the top of the 9th for the Astros and Scott Podsednik's home run for the Sox to win it. Both of these players have been good in the past. Vizcaino was a league average SS in his late 20s, and a slick fielder. Now, he's an overpaid, below replacement level, utility IF who possessies that magical quality that veterans seem to gain more of the more time they spend on the bench. Podsednik broke out onto the NL scene two years ago with an excellent rookie campaign (.314/.379/.443 with 43 SBs) before slipping dramatically last year and posting a completely empty .290 average (with no walks and no power) this year.
I'm not sure I've seen unlikelier heroes for a while, particularly because of the ways in which they became heroes. Vizcaino, who hit .246/.299/.337 on the year was sent up over Orlando Palmeiro (.284/.341/.431) to pinch hit. Podsednik, who had not homered in 568 plate appearances in the regular season, while playing half his games in one of the best home run parks in baseball, hit his second homer of the postseason. Not since the days of Tom Lawless in 1987 have I seen such random heroics.
Anywho, the wife calls and I'm tired. I'll try to write some tomorrow. In the meantime, if you've never seen Firefly and the movie Serenity that continues the story from the TV show, you are missing great, great things. Someday, you will look back and be sad.
I caught parts of the World Series last night, including Jose Vizcaino's single to tie it in the top of the 9th for the Astros and Scott Podsednik's home run for the Sox to win it. Both of these players have been good in the past. Vizcaino was a league average SS in his late 20s, and a slick fielder. Now, he's an overpaid, below replacement level, utility IF who possessies that magical quality that veterans seem to gain more of the more time they spend on the bench. Podsednik broke out onto the NL scene two years ago with an excellent rookie campaign (.314/.379/.443 with 43 SBs) before slipping dramatically last year and posting a completely empty .290 average (with no walks and no power) this year.
I'm not sure I've seen unlikelier heroes for a while, particularly because of the ways in which they became heroes. Vizcaino, who hit .246/.299/.337 on the year was sent up over Orlando Palmeiro (.284/.341/.431) to pinch hit. Podsednik, who had not homered in 568 plate appearances in the regular season, while playing half his games in one of the best home run parks in baseball, hit his second homer of the postseason. Not since the days of Tom Lawless in 1987 have I seen such random heroics.
Anywho, the wife calls and I'm tired. I'll try to write some tomorrow. In the meantime, if you've never seen Firefly and the movie Serenity that continues the story from the TV show, you are missing great, great things. Someday, you will look back and be sad.