Comments on FIRE JOE MORGAN: Two Quick Ones

POST-SCRIPTReader Jim Bulger points out that Simmo...

2005-10-25T16:01:00.000-04:00

POST-SCRIPT

Reader Jim Bulger points out that Simmons is factually incorrect: Brad Lidge did not give up consecutive walk-off home runs. The Pujols shot came in the top of the 9th, and the Astros had a chance to come back in the bottom of that inning.

In fact, Lidge went on to strike out Reggie Sanders right after his psyche was indelibly scarred by Pujols.

What's really amazing about Moore is that we basic...

2005-10-25T15:44:00.000-04:00

What's really amazing about Moore is that we basically know his head was fucked up that whole time. He was never able to get over the psychological trauma of giving up that Hendu tater -- or so the anecdotes tell us. And yet, despite an emotional spiral that would end in unspeakable tragedy, he was still able to put up pretty good numbers.

Really, Bill Simmons? Dennis Eckersley is the onl...

2005-10-25T15:29:00.000-04:00

Really, Bill Simmons? Dennis Eckersley is the only guy you can think of who has rebounded from a crushing save in the postseason? That's your only counterpoint to what is already an unstable premise to begin with? Is there a reason you forgot Mariano Rivera who, for all his successes, has failed more spectacularly than any closer in history? His only saving grace (n.p.i.) has been that his failures were not the result of a dramatic home run, but then he went ahead and had some pretty good "rebound" years. There are dozens of reasons why relievers become ineffective, and I'd wager that the majority of these cases are physical in nature.