Thursday, September 01, 2011
Getting It Out of the Way Now
So, watching the Crew in Pittsburgh where I had the chance to see them both on TV and in person, I was worried about their overt confidence, or hubris. Maybe it's my Italian Catholic upbringing or maybe it's just that I watch a lot of movies and read books but people with hubris don't tend to have happy endings.
I also knew the streak was unsustainable. No team can be that hot for that long. I was scared of the team rolling through September and it being the story for the playoffs about who could stop this team that is so hot... remember the Rockies' NL championship? Part of me was wishing they would lose some. Wish granted.
When teams go badly, they come up with all kinds of ways to lose. Just ask the Pirates. The Crew have followed suit in this series against the Cardinals:
The optimist thinks that getting frightened a little will get the energy back into the Crew. After all it was only after they'd fallen behind the Cardinals (and the Pirates it should be noted) that they went on their ridiculous August tear.
One way or the other, it makes for a good story. Here we go.
(ps. Pooholes grand slam. Ugh.)
So, watching the Crew in Pittsburgh where I had the chance to see them both on TV and in person, I was worried about their overt confidence, or hubris. Maybe it's my Italian Catholic upbringing or maybe it's just that I watch a lot of movies and read books but people with hubris don't tend to have happy endings.
I also knew the streak was unsustainable. No team can be that hot for that long. I was scared of the team rolling through September and it being the story for the playoffs about who could stop this team that is so hot... remember the Rockies' NL championship? Part of me was wishing they would lose some. Wish granted.
When teams go badly, they come up with all kinds of ways to lose. Just ask the Pirates. The Crew have followed suit in this series against the Cardinals:
- Lousy defense ruins a great start by Marcum. Two almost homers hit the top of the wall and the Crew lose Game 1, 2-1. Stellar managing by Roenicke keeps Yuni B. in the game to hit while pinch-hitting for red-hot Hairston. I think I'm on board with the idea of Hairston in for for Yuni B. when Rickie comes back, by the way, but Roenicke will never do it.
- Rafael Freaking Furcal leads off with another homer followed by Pooholes. The Crew seem to fight back but do some dumb things... Braun picked off second, Braun falls on way to an inside-the-park homer... and lousy defense doesn't pick up A Real Wolf's control problems. Still, a grand slam to one of the worst hitting pitchers in baseball? Game 2 to the Cardinals.
- Rafael Freaking Furcal leads off with another homer followed by Pooholes. Not even joking. Crew hitting into more double plays. Game 3 is looking to go to the Cardinals as well.
The optimist thinks that getting frightened a little will get the energy back into the Crew. After all it was only after they'd fallen behind the Cardinals (and the Pirates it should be noted) that they went on their ridiculous August tear.
One way or the other, it makes for a good story. Here we go.
(ps. Pooholes grand slam. Ugh.)
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