Each team sent it's ace pitcher, the unfatiguable Cliff Lee, the undefeated on, versus the kid they call the Freak, Timmy Lincecum. And they even call him Timmy. Age versus youth, best against best.
The Rangers have the hitters, the Giants have the beards, moustaches, and weird lingerie, so the story lines go. A game started also when it was still light out, a novel twist for those of us that can recall day baseball.
The game began with all the fanfare, the aged Giants from the past, Monte Irivin at 91 tossing out the first pitch, a strike, as called by Rick Sutcliffe ( still the Charlie Sheen of baseball broadcasters ).
The final score was 11-7, an neither ace lasted even 6 full innings. The stuff of legends, hah ! Not even close. MLB was quietly seething as these teams from such places as Arlington and San Francisco mugged for camera time, and the networks pined for New York New York final. Someone tell the Mets about this.
It was a spotty first game, errors, base running gaffs, and it made for more of carnival atmosphere than a traditional World Series game. But that's what we get more of these days, bread and circuses, not 1-0 games picthed by guys named Whitey Ford, Bob Gibson and Orel Hershiser. We got parity now, and $ 55 million of payroll ( in Texas ) does buy you a nice trip to the west coast.
I am rooting for the Giants, ans I can here Tony Bennett beginning to loosen his pipes and singing about where he left his heart, not because of any hate for Texas, but this Non Barry Bonds squad is just way too appealing with it's collection of great front line pitchers, and odd balls like cast off Cody Ross, red thonged Aubrey Huff, Juan "I hope my belt does not break" Uribe, and rookie catcher Buster Posey, they aren't your fathers' Giants of McCovey, Marichal and Willie Mays, but they have game.
The other interesting side story is that of Ranger ( and ex Giant ) Bengie Molina. So get this straight, no matter who wins, Bengie gets a ring. He played enough time for both team. He gets a ring even the Giants win. Sit down for that one.
The one story I still laugh over is the one where as the Rangers beat the Yankees, it was suggested that the ALCS MVP was none other than Bud Selig. Come again ?? Bud Light for MVP, because as you see, when the Rangers were trying to complete the deal for Cliff Lee, they were held in trust ( prior to their sale to Ryan and Daniels ) by MLB. So they needed approval from Buddy. They got it, Lee won every game in the ALDS and ALCS, so if MLB had said no, would the Rangers have beaten the Yankees ?
I am now off until the 12th of November, so likely no blogs until the Series is over.
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