On the first weekend on June, when I was last so fortunate to make a visit to the hallowed grounds of Roosevelt Field the O's were locked in tight game with Lannon. In the eighth inning a position switch was engineered to try and preserve a tight lead. Mike Bolson left the mound to play centerfield. Luke Nelson trotted in to pitch. Jeff Rhoads came in from left field to play short. Adam Schlosser shifted over to left. The move paid off and Nelson closed out a win. After the game I was joking with Steve Rhoads about how this same gambit might have looked in the major leagues.
Think back to last night's epic battle between the Red Sox and Yankees in Fenway Park, a thrilling 9-6 Boston win, marred only by the presence of Senator Kerry in the press box. New York had rallied from seven runs down and the tying run was at the plate. In real-life Terry Francona trotted to the mound and summoned Keith Foulke to close it out. But in the LOL scenario above, here's what Francona might have done. Nomar Garciaparra comes in to pitch. Pedro Martinez trots back to center field. Johnny Damon shifts over to left. And the real kicker in this whole scenario is the thought of Manny Ramirez jogging in to play short.
What if major league baseball were LOL ball? Imagine the scenarios that might play out. Here are just a few-all of which have had their equivalent at some time in the Land O'Lakes League.
--San Diego has just swept Arizona three straight games to close the gap on the Dodgers in the NL West. Baseball people can't understand why Randy Johnson didn't face the Padres. Los Angeles, in particular is up in arms over why the lowly Diamondbacks seemingly tanked this series. Interim manager Al Pedrique defends his decision to the media - "Look, we're not in the race. And we've got SWABA coming up on Tuesday. We're banking on the Big Unit for to try and win that and salvage the season."
--Feisty Anaheim has a frustrated, underachieving Baltimore squad on the ropes having scored three runs in the first and now in the third inning, Chone Figgins is on third. On a 1-2 count, he bolts and successfully steals home. A shocked and angered Sidney Ponson steps off the mound to shout at the umpire - "You've got to be kidding me. It's a nothing game and he's stealing home!" This really did happen in LOL ball-in 1993, Lannon's Jim Barwick swiped home off an Oconomowoc southpaw that has been away from the team a long time and inspired those words. The pitcher used the term "Sunday league" rather than "nothing game", but the intent was the same. I've often wondered what exactly the pitcher had in mind for the umpire to do-was he was supposed to order Barwick back to third on the grounds that Jimmy was just taking this little recreational affair a tad too seriously?
It's ten minutes to seven at Busch Stadium where the Marlins are getting to set to play the Phillies as both teams joust in the crazy NL East. The observant fan near the dugout sees Bobby Abreu running frantically down the left field line, having just arrived through the entrance and wearing just his jersey, shorts and stirrups and a bag slung over his shoulder. Jim Thome shouts to him - "Bobby you're our ninth!"
Cubs' skipper Dusty Baker is trying to calm the panicked North Side fans in light of team's struggles this past week. The cool-headed veteran simply reminds the press and fans that "Look we knew this was going to be tough. This is always the week Sammy and Moises Alou have their camping trip up in Wisconsin Dells. When they get back we'll be fine." Will they be here for Monday's game, an inquiring reporter wants to know? "I'm hopeful", Baker answered. "They go rafting in the morning, but since we're playing in Milwaukee I think they can make it for game time."
It's a dreary day in the Big Apple, but Tom Glavine is battling gamely as the Mets stake him to a 4-0 against St. Louis. Glavine skillfully works the powerful Cardinal lineup keeping Pujols, Rolen, Edmonds & Co. at bay. The rain holds off and the Mets win 5-2. After the game both teams are relaxing on the warning track near the dugout drinking their complimentary case of beer. At last the rain comes. A buzzed Glavine decides it's time to celebrate his win. As this is a site founded on solid conservative values, we'll just say that the veteran lefty, ahem, drew the inspiration for his celebration from Rob Becker's legendary jaunts after beating Merton. Your imagination can do the rest…
Surely there are more analogies as far as the eye can see, but this writer is still too absorbed in the thrills of the Red Sox-Yankees series this past weekend. Final scores of 8-7, 11-10 and 9-6. And no, they weren't playing softball. It's next weekend that Manny, Jeter, Ortiz and Giambi take their cuts in the Ixonia tournament.
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