Thank God it's Friday ... DUSTY BAKER and the Houston Astros get a taste of 'DIRTY WATER' .. or not ..
The Red Sox offense is swinging like they do in Beaumaris! Swinging from the fences, and connecting with alarming regularity. Laundromats are full in Beantown ...and then, next minute ...
DUSTY BAKER and the Houston Astro's get a taste of 'DIRTY WATER' .. or not .. SpeakingNick, October 2021
So, here we are - it’s that time of the week again - ‘Thank god it’s Friday’.
It was October 2021. Somewhere in New England, U.S.—I felt like the peerless Stephen King, holed up in the dense woodlands of Vermont, fighting with a flimsy internet connection and a cold, unresponsive qwerty keyboard—so, actually nothing like Stephen King!
Anyhow, I was there at the bequest of Australian PM, Mr. Scott Morrison, who decided, in his infinite wisdom, to make it impossible for Australian citizens to return home during the recent pandemic.
Anyway, to quote Stephen King on New England, “I was a political democrat with typical Yankee suspicious of life outside of New England.”
My experience in New England has taught me that its natives are blindly passionate about their slice of North America. Education is unashamedly important to them, of equal importance is authentic maple syrup—yes, it is—I have been to breakfast with folk who bring their own. And, the list can go on.
Circling back to the sport, that’s why we’re here, right? New England’s sports teams are arguably the most lauded set of franchises in the world. Located in Boston (the capital of New England)—the Red Sox (Baseball), Celtics (Basketball), Patriots (Football) and Bruins (Ice Hockey) are all storied teams in their respective sports.
Their players are equally lauded. Again, there are too many to list. So, if I can share my favourite—David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz—this not so much for his stellar play for the Red Sox, but more his rallying rhetoric after the tragic marathon bombings of 2013. Big Papi famously said, “This is our F***ing City!”, the support was overwhelming, and the “#BostonStrong” was born.
Today, August 26, 2022, the Houston Astros defeated the Minnesota Twins, extending their season record to 81/45 with a .643 win percentage. This week's Thank God it’s Friday’ travels back to that wooded terrain in Vermont, and my account of their duel with the Red Sox, playing off for the 2021 American League Championship.
The Astros finished off the Red Sox in six games, so advancing to their third World Series in five years.
Game three saw the Red Sox lap the Astros 12-3, with their version of ‘Baz-ball’ and Neil Diamond blowing up Spotify. ‘Dirty water was flowing, and I was kind of excited. And, then, next minute … Dusty Baker and his crew ran the tables, Sweet Caroline was retired for another year, and the good folk of Boston had to lay the blame somewhere … enter Laz Diaz. You can read the rest below.
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DUSTY BAKER and the Houston Astro's get a taste of 'DIRTY WATER' .. or not ..
SpeakingNick
The Red Sox offense is swinging like they do in Beaumaris! - swinging from the fences, and connecting with alarming regularity. Laundromats are full in Beantown. Washing trolleys are at a premium, crashing down the aisles, much the same as home run hitters in the Boston dugout. This venerable sports town is buzzing. Dan Shaughnessy is salivating! Start the car – The Red Sox Nation is rocking 'Dirty Water'
And, it’s not looking great for the Astros. 2-1 down with another Fenway date this evening, it might be a green monster too far for the Texas collective. After all, they are not mandated fans.
Welcome, Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker Jr. ‘Dusty Baker’
A man who knows all there is to know about dugouts has plenty on his plate. Legendary player-turned-manager Dusty Baker, unjustifiably maligned in some baseball circles, has to rally his troops in a hurry and look for a return to regular-season form. He may consider putting himself in tonight’s line-up, the 72-year-old swapping his hoodie and bobble hat for a Marucci and playing cap.
Alex Cora, the opposing Manager, equally maligned in other circles, is winning the manager’s spittoon contest. Same as his batters, Cora is hitting his targets without fail, and the receptacle is full. Dusty might consider a replacement pot, or maybe a quiet night at third base with some Marucci swinging!
First pitch goes down at 8pm. Likely starting pitchers are Nick Pivetta against Zack Greinke.
Neil Diamond is ready and willing.
The Red Sox continued to play an all-out offense. Home-run swinging at virtually every plate appearance.
It appeared they believed it was down to the probability that their swinging bats would catch the right ball eventually. The Red Sox missed a trick. Reading and reacting is a prerequisite skill for high-performance professional athletes; a mixed offense approach would have been more prudent, setting aside the complexity of probability, or chance.
Conversely, the Astros employed a more passive-aggressive approach to their play. Mirroring the great Ali v Frazier fight—The Rumble in the Jungle. Like Ali, they wore down their opponent with a sustained blocking defense, before eventually prevailing with a withering finish. The Sox will feel as aggrieved as Frazier did on that steamy night in Zaire.
The Astros prevailed 9 runs to 2—leveling the series at 2-2. Both sides’ momentum returned to a position of equilibrium.
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Tonight’s encounter, Game five, will be intriguing viewing—key personnel will change from last night’s game, and so might the strategy of both Managers. Will the Red Sox stay true to their overstated course, and will the Astros move away from their passive-aggressive tact?
Baseball games, well, most games, are played between two teams. Ground-breaking!
Then to the fans. Both the Astro’s and Red Sox’ continue to enjoy unwavering support. Next, the media. This medium allows the wider community to participate in the spectacle through print and vision. Last, but not least, we have to include the officials!
Last night wasn’t a good night for the umpires. Their officiating was too visible, and eventually changed the course of a compelling contest. For the worse, it has to be said.
Most of my playing career, cricket, not baseball, was played in a submissive state toward umpires. Stupidly thinking they might take pity on my inadequacies as a player, in hindsight, it was a foolish approach. Officials are a law unto themselves.
Laz Diaz, the home plate umpire, had a night to forget.
His view of the strike zone changed like Spring weather in Melbourne. He had the smoking hot JD Martinez in the gun all night, also confusing both sets of pitchers with his inconsistent and inaccurate viewport.
Diaz was demonstrative, argumentative, combative, and worst of all, unwavering in his belligerent attitude. Red Sox manager, Alex Cora, should have applied for an extradition order!
The game changer, though, was a game breaker—after approximately 23 missed ball-strike calls. Diaz botched a two-strike, two-out breaking ball from the starter, and turned closer, Nathan Eovaldi.
The fortunate recipient, Jason Castro, then proceeded to drive in the go-ahead score, and the rest is history, much the same as when Ali beat Frazier in Zaire.
This oversight will remain in the memory of every Bostonian—the only resolution will be a series win and a ticket to the World Series. Diaz will not be forgiven, just excused.
Boston is a tough joint.
Pitching under the gun can also be a risky business—there was ample evidence last night, leaving some icing their arms, knowing they could be on the mound again tonight, with a shot at retribution.
All of them, though, hoping Mr. Diaz will be watching from his armchair. Who would be an umpire?
Have a great weekend, and as always, thank you for being here.
