And so it begins.
The Phillies began their National League defense today, christening the 2010 season with a stunning victory over the defending champion New York Yankees. Despite allowing the Yankees to plate two in the top of the ninth to take a one run lead, the Phils rallied for two in their last at-bats to earn their first win of the non-season.
As expected, Roy Halladay was impressive in his first start of the spring, tossing two hitless innings while striking out three. Kyle Kendrick, Doc’s protege, put up two scoreless frames as well, allowing one hit and striking out one.
So what does this all mean?
Nothing. It means nothing at all. It’s the first week in March, so consider everything that happens between now and April 4th to be completely and utterly meaningless. Because it is. It’s Spring Training, and the Phillies play in something called the “Grapefruit League.” There are 10AM games. I haven’t played a 10AM game since I was nine. There are off-days to play golf. Players jog on the warning track in between at-bats after they’ve been replaced by someone with “84” on their back.
Make no mistake about it, you are all bearing witness to some awfully inconsequential baseball. And really, unless your name is Kyle or Jamie, then you can go ahead and hit the snooze alarm and coast for the next month. However, there are some (You know them better as WIP callers) who disagree. For them, spring training has as much weight and meaning as a mid-September game between against the Mets.
It goes without saying, and I feel like a dolt for even writing such things, but it’s not the same. It’s not even close. If Roy would’ve have struck out all six batters he faced, you’d say “Sure, he’s Roy.” Had he got knocked around, you’d say “It’s early. He’s just getting his reps in.” And although you’d be admonished for ending a sentence with a preposition, you’d be right. Or wrong. Or neither, because quite frankly, no one is ever right when it comes to this time of the season, because there is nothing to be right about, because it has no meaning.
This stems from the comments heard and read regarding Phillipe Aumont’s brief appearance on Wednesday night against the FSU squad. He didn’t look impressive. He didn’t look like he was just missing his spots, either. He just looked bad. He looked like he had the nerves of a Ben Stiller character.
But what do you expect? It’s spring training, the kid had the butterflies, and it got the best of him. And whatever you do, don’t you dare blame his struggles on his constantly adjusting arm slot that is completely common among pitchers on the third of March.
So please, for the love of the game, take this grain of salt. It’s a long season.
/Author’s note: I realize how unnecessary and pointless the above article was. Only like 5% of the population cares about spring training games. Unfortunately, that 5% has discovered the internet. And they are motivated, and unstoppable, like a grizzly bear who discovered kevlar. It’s a massive headache and an act of sheer futility just having to avoid these people. So please, bear with this utterly inane excuse for a column. After all, it’s spring training for me, too. I promise they’ll get better.
45 Responses to “The Most Unnecessary Post Ever?”
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General
Well stated. Some people need to understand that baseball in March is exactly that, baseball in March.
But it’s BASEBALL… (in March).
You have to add the correct emphasis.
“like a grizzly bear who discovered kevlar”
NIGHTMARE FUEL
i’m just glad that there are games on. sure theyre meaningless games, but i still like to follow the team and see how theyre doing, plus it’s nice to see some of the prospect talent.
I’m with Griswold. I just like seeing Doc, DomBrown, and some of the prospects in those Phillies uniforms. Plus, I’m really pulling for Tyson Gillies to have a strong spring. I like that kid.
Hallelujah.
I’m too pulling for Gillies. Dude is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast.
OMG…did you see Polanco overthrow Ransom at first and miss that routine pop-up?! I knew he couldn’t make the transition to third. We should have never gotten rid of Feliz. /WIP’d
Great post Dash, and I completely agree.
This is really a damn shame that so many supposed ‘fans’ are so quick to call prospects a failure. After having to hear their bitching for the past three months, the whining isn’t likely to subside unless all 3 prospects become All-Stars, and we win the World Series this year with our rotation as is.
I just wish these people would fuck off, and quit whining every damn second. Bitching is not going to change anything, besides making the divisions in the fanbase even worse than they already are.
Give the prospects a fair chance to develop, before calling them failures for fucks sake!
The whining Arm-Chair GM’s should go become Yankees fans or something, but i’m fucking tired of their repetitive and boring “Opinions”
Can we sign that grizzly bear? I think he’d be that power bat off the bench that we need.
Yeah the games are pointless and of course what happens during the first week of March has no real impact on the regular season but lighten up.
We are fans who are excited to talk about baseball and this means that we will be critical from time to time. I would rather hear people talking about Aumont’s performance with passion that have a fan base that nonchalantly shrugs and says, “Eh, who cares? I’ll wait till April to formulate opinions.”
CLIFF LEE
I especially enjoyed the callers on 97.5 yesterday who were super worried about Polanco. And of course Mike Miss reminding us how much he would like Cliff Lee back as usual.
It’s also worth noting that, in an equally small sample size, Aumont struck out three major league hitters in the World Baseball Classic.
Concur with: definitely rooting for Gillies, not going to worry right now about Aumont. Also- let’s enjoy seeing Dom Brown while we can.
I know the games mean nothing but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see all the televised ones. Maybe we should talk about McNabb, because that’s not old as shit.
You’re talking like its not even the phillies that go out there for these games. I agree with you that the games and performances aren’t all that important but baseball is back and I have a boner. It was pretty fucking awesome hearing LA on the radio while Roy Halladay was striking out Yankees.
“I agree with you that the games and performances aren’t all that important but baseball is back and I have a boner. ”
Well said, GREEZY.
remember when LA did play by play on TV for half a season. I love Larry, but it was strange hearing someone stumble through the action. His wit and humor are the most valuable asset to the broadcast.. im glad they left it that way.
LA is awesome and I look forward to his first call for one to the neck for Reyes.
that’s really when he stole our hearts, for real.
Heh heh heh, I forgot about that. LA is so freakin’ awesome.
And I not cheering this man’s health issue but really, I think the Mets needs to seriously consider trading for an exorcist. What the heck is happening over there?
From MLB: “Reyes to be tested for thyroid imbalance; Mets shortstop will be sidelined until results are known”
Just keep more sunflower seeds on hand for that overactive thryoid.
i leave for florida on wednesday to watch unimportant games and performances WITH my boner. Yes, its baseball in march, but it was still fun to watch Doc finally in action yesterday… oh and Shane laughing at FSU outfielders = priceless.
Buster Olney is comparing the Phillies v. Yankees to the Lakers v. Celtics. I generally think Olney is a turd, but I’m curious. Is anybody an Insider/copier/pasterer?
After the multiple heart attacks I suffered watching the last post season….I’m greatful for some meaningless, relaxing baseball where I still get to see my Phils kick ass, take names, grow beards, beat the Yankees, and put their hands down their pants.
Yeah Olney is an idiot. Why would you want to read that shit?
I def. have to agree with GREEZY on this one too. I don’t care what happens during the actual ST games – win, lose, pitcher getting shelled, pitcher striking out the side, good throw, bad throw – but I do care (and maybe a little TOO much) that baseball is back. Yesterday I heard LA on my radio, saw Roy Halladay pitch in a Phillies uniform, saw Sarge on the TV and it was like school letting out for summer vacation. I love Spring Training simply for those reasons.
I acknowledge the fact that I am a huge Phillies (and baseball) dork – I did wear my Dobbs jersey to work yesterday to commemorate the beginning of real spring training action and made it a point of heading over to McFaddens to see the beginning of the game yesterday (I work in the navy yard, so it’s close) – and I am fine with it.
BTW LA was already doing some shit talking on the umpires yesterday. I wonder what time he starts pregaming for these spring training games. My guess is 8pm the night before.
moyer “dominated” in the b game today.
3ip, 0r, 3h, 3k, 0bb
looking on the bright side here. at least it wasn’t the first pitch that cole threw that got jacked out of the park. jose bautista politely waited until the 2nd pitch.
killer z’s im not cheering his issue either.. but its quite a coincidence to have a thyroid problem when its a direct side effect to several anabolic agents. NY is trying to ‘diagnose’ it.. aka, fabricate something to hide his usage? bah, i hate accusing guys without warrant, but he’s making it tough.
Reyes is having hormonal problems, uh oh. HOT FLASHES IN QUEENS…… What a vaj.
he’s now rehearsing the thyroid shuffle.
I bet David Wright gave him AIDS
he more likely gave him braids, for his hair. cause ya know, they look rad.
will.H, type-o – my mistake. Braids not AIDS
http://www.twitpic.com/16snt2
jdash, i knew you wouldn’t disappoint. that’s fucking hilarious.
Aumont = Simple Jack?
thinkred you ma ma make eyes rain
The column is dead on. This basically practice, only they invite another team over to play, and then it gets televised.
Buster Olney is an idiot. The Phillies and Yankees have met twice in the World Series in the last 110 years. Maybe in a few years it could be a rivalry. Depending on how things go, in a few years Mariners/Giants could be a big rivalry. Or maybe it won’t.
The Mets might have better luck if they moved to Montreal.
The media loves to make up fake rivalries and drama, not really surprised.
The best part about Spring Training is seeing Tyler Walker while we still can.
Maybe Reyes needs to invite Kate Hudson over to pound him with an eggplant the way A-roid did. Maybe he can turn it around then………….or at least turn around on some blunt objects……
Let’s see…5% of 285,000,000 is 14,250,000.
I think you over estimate!