Tomorrow I’ll have a blog of substance, as I’ll be going over my American Association postseason All-Star ballot and talk somewhat in-depth about a lot of baseball players that you’ve never heard of. Today, though, it’s just your typical Jeffrey Lutz fare — Olympics, a few lame jokes and of course some Wingnuts talk.
But apparently I need to step up my game — my last blog entry didn’t even get a mention from the Douglas and Main site. I must really be slacking because I seem to always get some run over there. I’ll try harder this time.
You won’t see many playoff scenarios weirder than the one the Wingnuts could have found themselves in last night. Wichita did its part by losing to Sioux Falls, but for the bizarre scenario to have materialized, Sioux City would have needed to beat Pensacola. If that had happened and the Wingnuts had followed their loss last night with a win today, they would have eliminated themselves from playoff contention. Yes, with a win.
How is that possible? Well, ask Wingnuts radio guy Steve Schuster, who’s far more up on playoff scenarios than I am and usually has to explain them to me. But since Sioux Falls has to win the second half to give Wichita a shot at the second-best overall record and the second North Division playoff spot, Sioux Falls has to keep winning to catch Sioux City for the second half championship. If the Wingnuts had beaten Sioux Falls today, Sioux Falls couldn’t catch Sioux City and the Wingnuts would be out of it.
Got all that?
Yeah, me neither.
In case it wasn’t obvious by Vic Davilla’s and Kash Beauchamp’s quotes after the game last night, the Wingnuts really don’t like Pat Mahomes that much. The ex-Major Leaguer is a little too animated for the Wingnuts’ tastes, and you can imagine how that act goes over with Beauchamp, who is as Old School as they come. But definitely, quotes like that make my job quite a bit easier. In case you missed them:
Davilla: “He was just being a baby.They beat us three games in a row and he’s complaining about not getting a strike call and complaining to the umpire about it. And I had to be the one to tell him to be quiet and get back on the mound. For me, (the home run) was good but I wish we would have won.”
Beauchamp: “For me as a player, I’d have some animation back at him, but this is a different day and age. I would relish facing a guy like that, to be honest with you. He better hope I never hit a home run, because I’d pimp him worse than he pimps us every time he makes an out. When he shoves it up people’s butts, I guess he can do what he wants.”
Fun stuff.
Did you see the USA’s Olympic game against China? One of the USA’s players bowled over China’s catcher, and China responded by drilling Indians stud prospect Matt LaPorta in the head with a pitch. Classy stuff. Then later that catcher hit a bomb and pimped it worse than anything I’ve ever seen. USA had the victory in hand, but he went around like Kirk Gibson then stomped on home plate. Nice.
And finally, I’ve yet to mention, even though it happened about 10 days ago, the death of one of my favorite entertainers ever, Bernie Mac. I caught on to Mac when I went to see The Original Kings of Comedy back in 2000. I went to see the three others in the movie — Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley, but Mac was awesome in that show and I’ve been a big fan ever since.
So I’ve decided that the ultimate tribute to Mac would be for my Indians to finish in third place in the AL Central. Mac was in one baseball movie, Mr. 3000, when he played a superstar Brewers player. He put his individual goals behind him and focused instead on helping the Brewers finish in …. third place. So when the Indians catch Detroit for third in the Central I’ll say, This One’s For You, Bernie.