On the one hand, I am pleased that Phil Mushnick has taken to slamming Joe Morgan every Monday in his
New York Post column. On the other hand, I kind of feel like, hey, we got here first, man.
Joe Morgan remains relentless in providing expertly stated nonsense. Last night, during Mets-Cubs on ESPN, Luis Castillo stuck with a windblown popup, making a nice catch. But Morgan explained the play as the result of Castillo being unfamiliar with the winds in Wrigley Field because, “Castillo has played his entire career in the American League.” But Castillo played 10 years in the NL, all with the Marlins. In fact, it was Castillo who hit the infamous fly that spectator Steve Bartman caught - before Moises Alou could - in the 2003 NLCS at Wrigley. Last season, with the Twins, was his first in the AL.
In the top of the fifth, Morgan’s partner, Jon Miller, noted that Castillo has played before in Wrigley. Morgan said nothing.
A number of people emailed about this yesterday, and if I hadn't been out house-hunting with Mrs. Tremendous I would have posted about it earlier.
Reader Noam writes in:
Just to add my own two cents to this: Morgan called the 1997 World Series for NBC, which Castillo played in, not to mention how many Sunday Night Baseball games the Marlins were in between 1996-2005 (when Castillo was a Marlin). Forget not watching other games to prepare. He doesn't watch the games he calls!!
That would be the natural conclusion, yes.
Since we're in mini-Gallimaufry mode, here's Bob on the Angels' game:
2 outs in the 8th and an Angel gets a hit. Steve Physioc (with fevered, boyscout enthusiasm): "That's the way to start the 8th!"
Simple, elegant, bone-brained: Physioc.
One more Joe-ism from Jason:
Joe talking about the Cubs defense and Ryan Theriot as SS...
"They also have Cesar Izturis here... but Theriot has won the job."
Well, I don't know if Izturis got the day off from the Pirates to go watch the Cubs-Mets game and that's what he meant (somehow I doubt it), but my guess is Morgan just doesn't know that Izturis ever got traded.
EDIT: Larry writes in to give Joe a much-needed shot in the arm:
As much as I love piling on Joe, I'm certain he said "had" and not "has" in relation to Izturis."
Either way, it's a wonder to behold, every Sunday night.Labels: gallimaufry, joe morgan, phil mushnick, steve physioc
It makes me queasy to align (philosophically) this blog with the New York
Post -- a newspaper that was named "Worst Thing" in a recent survey of all things. However, Phil Mushnick, who wrote the
article linked a few days ago about Joe Morgan's inexplicable insistence that his MLB debut occurred in a way that history and recording devices indicate it did not,
has continued the battle today, and we must applaud the effort.
After you go read that article, come on back for:
A mini-Gallimaufry!
From Dallas:
Jack Wilson had a web gem on Baseball Tonight, and as it was being shown, Kurkjian said, "He's a good player. I don't know why the Pirates would want to get rid of him."
Well, Tim, aside from the fact that he's hitting .259/.308/.359, has an EQA of .240, and is going to earn $20.2 million over the next three years, I can't think of a single, solitary reason.
Tim Kurkjian frustrates me. I like his uber-nerd persona, and I like his "The last time a guy threw a six-hitter left-handed and had four sac bunts in one game was Lord Umberto Chammingsworth in 1859 in the Scottish Rounders Association" factoids. But sometimes...well, sometimes he says stuff about Jack Wilson.
Many of you enjoyed Jay Mohr's "What I Like About Sports" - slash - fascinating look back on American culture in the 1980's
piece. You also pointed out about eleven stupid things I missed. Eric is so dedicated he brought visual aids:
I know trying to pick apart something Jay Mohr proposes is not exactly the highest calling in life, but I take exception to his theory that having pitchers bat in both leagues would lead to an increase in hitters being hit by pitches. Attached is a simple chart displaying quite an increase in HBP in both leagues following the introduction of the DH, and initially more in the AL following that change. While it is highly speculative to suggest causation in this case, I simply found it humorous how off-the-charts wrong Jay is.
Thanks, Eric. Pretty colors.
This might be my favorite gallimaufry item of the year. From Benjamin:
Joe Morgan thanked Frank Robinson for showing up in the announcers' booth to chat during tonight's Giants-Dodgers broadcast on ESPN. He then went on to say this, for everyone to see and hear:
"And I hope that when I retire I can get a job like yours where I'm paid to watch games!"
...A short pause. Berman then says, "You do that now, Joe!" Joe then cackles -- a madman's cackle. He knows he's not paid to watch games or analyze baseball. That would be insanity.
Seriously. What is going on in the man's brain?
Labels: gallimaufry, joe morgan, phil mushnick
...if we didn't link
articles like this?
Truly weird.
Labels: joe morgan, phil mushnick
