FIRE JOE MORGAN

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

Quick FJM site update: we are hard at work on a glossary of nerdy terms that we use on the site, as well as a FAQ section that will answer many questions you have probably never asked yourselves about us, the site, and so forth. Both of these pages, when finished, will become permanent parts of the FJM blogoverseosphere, and both should be completed in the next 3-80 days.

BTW, it's a really good thing Ozzie didn't have Francisco Liriano start the ASG, because he is neither good nor exciting. Give me The Gambler anyday.

I will leave you with a quick update from loyal reader The Dudes, who reports in with this little gem from my personal least favorite local announcer tandem in all of MLB:

The Halos crew were talking about how good Mike Napoli's been this year (.282/.415/.584), and Steve Physioc, the PBP guy, said "Napoli's going to see more time putting up those numbers." To which Rex Hudler replied, "Don't forget, Jose Molina has been good too."

Jose Molina:

.206 EqA
-4.7 VORP

(After we finish the glossary, everyone will know how funny that is!)

Labels: rex hudler, steve physioc

After Randy Johnson struck out Macier Izturis in the second:

Randy gets his first strike out of the game, as he continues to chase the great Nolan Ryan for strikeouts.

Coming into today: Nolan Ryan: 5714 K's. Randy Johnson: 4303 K's. Nolan Ryan has roughly a third again as many K's. And Randy Johnson is almost 42. To say Randy Johnson is "chasing" Nolan Ryan is like saying that I, Ken Tremendous, with zero lifetime no-hitters, am chasing Nolan Ryan's career record of seven no-hitters.

Labels: steve physioc