Somewhat Manly Nerd » NLCS http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog infrequent blogging from some dude Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:14:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 I’d Like To Revisit an AB from Game 1 of the NLCS http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/2009/10/16/id-like-to-revisit-an-ab-from-game-1-of-the-nlcs/ http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/2009/10/16/id-like-to-revisit-an-ab-from-game-1-of-the-nlcs/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:20:26 +0000 CajoleJuice http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/?p=2089 8-6 Phillies. Bottom of the 8th inning. Two outs. Men on 1st and 3rd. Charlie Manuel leaves in Ryan Madson to face Manny Ramirez, even though he had already let up a run in the inning, and had just given up a single — probably because he knows his closer Brad Lidge wouldn’t fair any better.

The following is what occurred:

Madson didn’t throw a strike the entire at-bat, yet Manny was swinging at almost everything, and eventually grounded out weakly to 3rd base. That first pitch was definitely a result of Manny wanting to jump on a good first pitch, and the ball just ran inside on him, tying him up completely. Manny once again feel victim to being overanxious with pitches 3 and 4, letting the high and inside pitch dilate his pupils. And by the final pitch in the at-bat, Madson knew to stay inside and high — there was no way Manny was going to do any damage with that pitch.

Once Manny made that 3rd out, the game was pretty much over. Not even Brad Lidge was able to blow it. By the way, anyone who says LIDGE IS BACK needs to shut the hell up. He will blow a save this series, 100%.

]]> http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/2009/10/16/id-like-to-revisit-an-ab-from-game-1-of-the-nlcs/feed/ 0 Thank Fucking God Baseball Is Back http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/2009/10/15/thank-fucking-god-baseball-is-back/ http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/2009/10/15/thank-fucking-god-baseball-is-back/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:16:58 +0000 CajoleJuice http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/?p=2076 As I type this, the Phillies and Dodgers are getting ready to take the field for Game 1 of the NLCS. Two  days without baseball just shouldn’t happen at any point during the season. I almost watched hockey and preseason Knicks basketball (ok, not really) — but I did find and read too much analysis about the series that were already over and the series to come.  How much can you go over stuff that is basically a crapshoot? We all know the Yankees are a better team than the Angels, but Burnett and/or Sabathia could easily have a bad couple of starts and then BAM they’re out. A-Rod, Teixeira, and Jeter could all go cold. It’s possible! We also know the Phillies bullpen is total shit, but in the past week we saw a bunch of great closers completely meltdown.

The ALCS is supposed to start tomorrow, but somehow I can’t see it getting kicked off, considering it’s been raining all day and the precipitation looks to continue for the next couple of days. So not only will my tennis lesson on Saturday be canceled — shut up — I might not have a game to watch that day, either. Not to mention it’s chilly as fuck for mid-October in New York. What the hell is up with that?

[Insert obligatory anecdotal GLOBAL WARMING IS BULLSHIT comment.]

My other baseball annoyance of the day was arguing with a Phillies fan about the MVP of their team. It hasn’t been anyone but Chase Utley for four years. Sure, Ryan Howard loves his HR and RBIs, but Utley does EVERYTHING — especially getting on base in front of Howard. I need to find out a way to look up how many times Howard hit Utley in. Baseball-Reference, don’t fail me now.

]]> http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/2009/10/15/thank-fucking-god-baseball-is-back/feed/ 0 I Need to Buy a Brad Lidge Voodoo Doll http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/2008/10/09/i-need-to-buy-a-brad-lidge-voodoo-doll/ http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/2008/10/09/i-need-to-buy-a-brad-lidge-voodoo-doll/#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:01:24 +0000 CajoleJuice http://thesomewhatmanlynerd.wordpress.com/?p=740 Fuck you, Brad Lidge. How did you recover from Pujols effectively ending your career? He hit that home run a half-mile. You were done. Worse than Eric Gagne. And now you’re the best goddamn closer in the NL, closing every game the Phillies win in the playoffs. WHAT THE FLYING FUCK. I hope the one game you fucked up — the All-Star Game — comes back to haunt your team if you make the World Series.

I still think the Dodgers will beat your team, but if they don’t, I want you to blow the final game of the season. Game 7 of the World Series at either the bandbox that is Fenway Park, or the shithole that is Tropicana Field. I will make sure to have my voodoo doll sitting on top of TV. Maybe I’ll have it pinned to a dartboard. And as I hit the bullseye, you will give up a home run to Pujols. But how will Pujols hit a home run if he’s not in the playoffs, you ask. There will be a rip in the space-time continuum and Pujols will replace whomever is up, doesn’t matter if it’s Dustin Pedroia or Evan Longoria. Nobody will notice. But I will. I will see the flicker of Pujols’ soul engulf the puny mortal’s frame. Mark my words: PUJOLS WILL DESTROY YOU ONCE AGAIN.

]]> http://somewhatmanlynerd.com/blog/2008/10/09/i-need-to-buy-a-brad-lidge-voodoo-doll/feed/ 3