Idiots abound

In the wake of Jonathan Papelbon choking Bryce Harper (see the LINK) some have said Papelbon should never play again, he has been suspended so he won’t be playing again this season, hopefully. Others have sided with Papelbon, saying he was right, as a veteran player such as the person who tweeted this tweet.

There are two problems with that. One is Bryce Harper is the best player on the Nationals, he leads the NL in batting average (.336), runs (117) and OPS (1.125), and is tied for the home run lead (41). You don’t get those numbers by being a ‘lazy shit’. He’s a candidate for National League Most Valuable Player Award, on a better team he would be heading to the post season, possibly the World Series. Papelbon has played 22 games for the Nationals, he has pitched a grand total of 23.2 innings, and a has proven himself a bit of a jerk. Of course I have a history of dislike for Puppybone.

The second thing is Puppybone didn’t stand up or call Harper out for being lazy, he attacked him, he tried to choke him. If it had happened anyplace else Puppybone could be facing criminal charges. But it didn’t and people are defending him. It proves the title of this post.

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Double header

Monday originally was a day off for the Yankees. The weather had other ideas and rained out two games in April, therefore on Monday the Yankees played a double-header to make up the games. It was a single admission double header which means the fans in Cleveland got to see two games for the price of one.

First game

~~ Indians 1, Yankees 0 ~~

Second game

~~ Yankees 7, Indians 0 ~~

It’s not unusual for teams to split a double header. What I’m going to talk about is the pitching. David Phelps came up to the big leagues April 2012 as a reliever, as the season wore on he showed he had durability, lasting 4 or 5 innings in long relief and made a few starts. This year, in April he was also pitching in relief until our pitchers started dropping like flies. Then he was put in the rotation, he had a rocky first start, his start on this Monday was not rocky at all. The only run was a home run and if the Yankees HAD GOTTEN THEIR STUFF TOGETHER and actually scored some runs, he would have gotten the win since the bullpen didn’t give up any runs either. Phelps line: 6.2IP, 4H, 1R, 5BB, 7SO, 4.33ERA

March 20 the Yankees played the Red Sox in Spring Training. I looked at the line-up and said, “Who the hell is Vidal Nuno?” He pitched 5 scoreless innings that game. But I didn’t really expect to see him in the regular season. Absolutely he would not be starting any REAL games. So far he’s pitched 8 scoreless innings in the regular season. Monday he was the starting pitcher in the second game, a game that counts. Now I know who Vidal Nuno is. Nuno’s line: 5.0IP, 3H, 0R, 3BB, 3SO, 0.00ERA.

Adam Warren came into finish the game, his line: 4.0IP, 2H, 0R, 4SO, 1.45ERA. Nuno got his first big league win, and Warren got his first save of the season.

Between the two games the Indians gave Mariano Rivera a framed gold record of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”.

~~ Yankees 4, Mariners 3 ~~

Today’s game I really thought the Mariners were going to win, they were ahead the whole game and Felix was pitching and he usually shuts down the bats. Which he did today until he left the game after 6 innings. CC also left after 6 but the Yankee bullpen is better than the Mariners. Also our pitchers know to NOT stand in front of first base when there is a base runner so your infield can get him out properly. In another example of a groan worthy headline, Robinson Cano tied the game and the MLB headline reads: “After aces exit, Yanks Rob a win.”

In other baseball news: Shane Victorino now knows where the visitors bullpen wall at Fenway is, and Bryce Harper knows where the right-field wall at Dodger stadium is. Guys, the outfield does not go on forever, the wall is hard and you may be super ball players but you are not superheroes.

And one last thing before I go, Yankees still in first place.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

Game 39
Yankees 25-14 (0.641)

Andy Pettitte vs. Bryce Harper

This game wasn’t really a ‘contest’ between Andy and Bryce, but the fact is that Andy is twice as old as Bryce Harper. And Bryce Harper is the young phenomena and Andy Pettitte is the ‘old guy’ making a come back. Someone even mentioned, Andy’s kids probably tweet with Bryce Harper. He is only a couple of years older then Andy’s oldest son.

Of course the beat writers, couldn’t let this go, one of them kept up a theme during the game.

Andy Pettitte could be grounding Bryce Harper. Or docking his allowance. Instead, he’s here trying to get him out.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) June 16, 2012

Could you see this? Alright son if you hit this baseball you’re grounded and I’m taking away your allowance!

In the first, Pettitte sent Harper to his room. In the third, Pettitte made him mow the lawn.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) June 16, 2012

Two times facing Pettitte, two strike outs. Is 40 the new 20?

RT @ESPNNYYankees: Pettitte is stealing Bryce Harper’s lunch money

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) June 16, 2012

Now this implies that they are in the same grade, or that Pettitte is a bully, or maybe Harper is the brash young kid being set down and taught a lesson by a seasoned veteran.

In the fifth, Andy Pettitte takes the car keys away from Bryce Harper.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) June 16, 2012

Andy can drive you anywhere you need to go.

Bryce Harper will be writing “I will not strike out five time in a game again” 500 times on the blackboard after this game.

— Yankeesource (@YankeeSource) June 16, 2012

Actually he just showered and left, declining to talk to reporters. Knowing what stupid questions some of them ask, I don’t really blame them. Joe gets tired of the clown questions, and Bryce is a rookie with a lot less patience than Joe.

And one more thing, the Yankees didn’t hit any home runs this game, and it took them 14 innings to win it. I prefer games with home runs.