Results tagged ‘ playoffs ’
Awkward Moments and Vicious Cycles Galore
In other news, I have just now come to the realization that the Giants won’t play another game (okay, yes, I’m slow) until next March. And I am sad. And, okay, yes, that probably has something to do with the Rangers losing today. Some days I hate baseball a lot more than I like it.
And then I watch highlights like this one- Favorite. Baseball. Moment. Of. All. Time- and like it all over again.
Vicious cycle, people. Vicious cycle.
Diamond Girl
Me and My Antlers and Theo Epstein and His Cursed Teams
Okay, so! Are my antlers good luck or are my antlers really, truly good luck?
Why is my head MIA, you ask? Well, partially, because all my purple eyeshadow has gone missing (believe me, I have some suspects on this) and partially because I’m having a Bad Hair Day with capitals. You should thank me, really.
It’s not that the Rangers weren’t doing well before I put them on in the beginning of the 11th (hey, did you see Cruz’s throw to home plate? That is like my definition of “well”.) It’s just that they weren’t doing well enough to win the game and be done with it.
Which is why I took my antlers off their display perch on my dresser and stuck them on my head. The rest is history. Which is to say, the Rangers broke it open and proved walking Beltre to get to Napoli was a bad idea, not to mention that Nelson Cruz likes to hit three runs blasts and he did just that. It was lovely.
The game was also lovely because a) Michael Young shaved the lame beard and b) he got his first RBI of this postseason. He also did a fab twirl at first base, fielding a throw from Beltre which made me all gooey and Young-lovey for a good half hour. (And did I mention how much better he looks with short hair?)
What was not lovely about this game? The rain. The tons and tons and tons of rain. I mean, I love rain, but everything is contextual, you know? And in this context, the rain was horrible.
This series has gotten a lot harder for me since it moved to Detroit, because, as y’all probably know, I have a bit of a Detroit pride thing going on. So FOX’s beautiful shots/feel-good stories about the city made me feel for the Tigers. But once the game started, I put aside all Superbowl-ad-inspired allegiances and tried to focus on my Rangers.
Then came Rick Porcello.
He is just too much fun to watch pitch and I am sure I cannot be alone in saying he is my favorite Tiger. He is really darn good and I love him. Once again, my allegiances were tested and once again I prevailed and kept on rooting for Texas. But this is not as easy as it looks, alright?
And yeah, cranberry bagels rock. As do the playoffs. Good night, now.
Diamond Girl
p.s. Apparently Theo Epstein digs cursed teams. No accounting for taste, I guess.
A Dystopia, Featuring Churros, Bud Selig and Joe Torre!
I suffered through seeing a 2-0 lead vaporized in one swing of a Tiger bat in the third inning, only to miss the grand payoff in the 11th, on a wild goose chase that may or may not have been centered around my hair. (Fine. It was. I admit it.)
Oh, did I mention that grand payoff?
It was grand in the sense that it was awesome, but also in the sense that it was a grand-freaking-slam from Nelson Cruz. Walk-off. In the 11th. First walk-off grand slam in the playoffs in the history of Major League Baseball. I’ve watched it over more times than I care to mention and it gives me goosebumps every time. Seriously, haven’t these playoffs just been the most dramatic anyone could ever possibly have hoped for? I can just imagine Joe Torre sitting in the stands, looking satisfied and evil.
Speaking of Torre! I’m a little torn. I think he looks less scary in a suit than in a uniform, but there’s also something vaguely menacing about the idea of him working of the league. Um, dystopia waiting to happen, anyone?
I’m sure I’m being unfair to him and he’s a totally teddy bear, in reality, but… I can’t quite get rid of that image of him (in a Dodgers uniform, of course) being Selig’s silent, right-hand man as Bud takes over the US and makes candy illegal and makes everyone he doesn’t like sell churros or something. Really, am I alone on this?
And if I am alone and you are staring at your computer screen in disbelief right now because of that rant, then blame FOX who interviewed him more times then they needed to, during the rain delay the other night and put all this jazz in my head.
Lastly, I would just like to say that I am very stoked for the Rangers and all, but they are most certainly testing my fandom by sporting those ridiculous beards. Josh Hamilton looks like someone splashed tomato sauce on his face and Mike Napoli looks like he always shaves a little-too-high-onto-the-neck-which-turns-into-chin. So, yeah, I have a little present for them.
Thank the stars Alexi is clean-shaven and I can still love him to death. Okay, ‘nuff whining for the day. Antlers and rain and cinnamon sticks in coffee to all!
Diamond Girl
p.s. Why do the Canadians get Thanksgiving before us? Why?
Enough With the Yankee Bashing, People!
When talking about another baseball team- one you’re not a fan of- there’ s this sense of walking on eggshells, almost. The national writers, the civilized fans, everyone, really just does their best to be courteous and cryptic when criticizing. I mean, even within the Giants-Dodgers rivalry people basically stick to it.
But bring the slightest hint of pinstripes into the equation? And all hell breaks loose.
It’s suddenly perfectly acceptable to be snide, rude and personal attacks are lauded by everyone else.
Look, I get to the whole underdog thing, I really do. I see, from that perspective, I guess, why people would want the Tigers to beat the Yankees. But what really warrants saying, “I don’t root for any team in MLB, but I always enjoy the moment the #yankees are eliminated.” (That one came from @JeffFletcher1, editor of the A’s and Giants magazines, who, other than his Yankee bashing, is totally great.) And that’s exactly my point. People who try not to have allegiances or be impartial can still loathe the Yankees and be perfectly public about it.
And I really don’t get it.
Partially, I think, that’s because I’ve always basically liked the Yanks myself. The Core Four are undeniably loveable, A-Rod is mega-fun to watch (more on that later, Roid-ers) and, yes, they’re payroll is super high. But in the end, if they do well, it’s because they were smart as an organization and earned it. Money can’t really buy success, in baseball and begrudging a team for being rich just seems backwards to me.
Fact is, Granderson, Cano and Gardener (among others) are really vibrant and tons of fun to watch. They play baseball the right way, if you will, and I don’t understand hating on them for a little detail like the name on the front of their uniforms.
And then there is A-Rod, of course. There seem to be very few Rodriguez fans out there, but I am one, actually. I get the whole steroid thing and despise that as much as the next person, but I think plenty of people have done/are doing them. He’s become something of a scapegoat, because of how good he is, probably. But what I really hear is people picking on his persona, on the fact that he has dated Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz et al. That weirds me out because though he does have a bit of a celebrity persona, he doesn’t court that. Compared to, say, the obnoxious, attention-begging persona of Brian Wilson, what is A-Rod? I don’t think he’s a role model or a perfect guy, by any stretch of the imagination. But at this point I basically respect him and enjoy watching him. I think I get why everyone hates him, but I disagree with it.
Today, there was this article from one of my favorite writers, Mychael Urban of csnbayarea.com, titled “A-Rod the Nimrod”, which was basically 200 words to say, We hate him. Plenty of other people, who have never even had an injury history, pull the injury card and no one breathes a word.
I know that the Yankees are hated and that’s history and I’m not going to change anyone’s opinions. And that’s okay. But whatever happened to civility, people?
Diamond Girl
p.s. I am not in the habit of dedicated posts but this one goes out to The Person Who Wanted Me To Write This. You know who you are and I will never let anyone pick on the Yankees around you again.
Three Game Fives! Plus Gloomy, Apocalypse-Is-Coming Stares
Guess what, people? (If you guessed that Apple is in mourning you would be right, but wrong. Right because it’s true, but wrong because that’s not at all what I meant.) There’ll be three game fives this year for only the third time in MLB history (others were, in case you’re a geek and you’re wondering, 1981 and 2001)! Yankees/Tigers will fight it out tonight and tomorrow all the National League stuff will be decided.
Yep, I’m seriously considering heating up my flatiron for the occasion. All this drama necessitates some stress-relief and what better stress relief than roasting my hair within an inch of its life? I think that came out sounding weirder than I meant for it to.
Anyhow, stress aside, I’m really totally stoked about all these games. Around the league, and this may just be me, this season felt a bit lackluster so it figures and is awesome that these playoffs have been nothing short of thrilling. Just good baseball all around, you know? It’s been tons of fun to check the scores as the games progress, because I really genuinely have no idea which way they’ll all go.
I’ve also really been surprised by the fight the Diamondbacks have put up. I mean, I still think the Brewers are going to take this, hands down (I know, jinx alert!) but I had this belief during the regular season that Arizona was a world-class fluke and would be crushed out of the playoffs at the first chance anyone got but apparently that was irrational. I will say now with a gloomy, apocalypse-is-coming stare that I was wrong and they really have something going. And (repeats the gloomy stare) that it’s pretty great that they overcame all the last place predictions and took the division.
All that said, BrewCrew f-o-r-e-v-e-r! And I’m glad Texas clinched earlier. Because as much as stress gives me good hair, four game fives would have been a little much. Thank you, Rangers. For preserving what is left of my sanity. You rock. And so do the playoffs.
Diamond Girl
p.s. In other news, Timmy likes to trash nice apartments and then deny he did it. Huh.
5 Things I Am Loving About the Playoffs
For whatever reason, the playoffs bring out the non-verbal barbarian in me, so…
5. This. Antlers.
4. This. Beltre.
3. This. Brauny.
2. This. Verlander.
1. This. Granderson.
Diamond Girl
99 Bottles of Ginger Ale on the Clubhouse Wall
Yes, it’s in honor of the Rangers clinching a spot in the ALCS. Yes, I’ll be embarrassed if I hear that they didn’t actually do the ginger ale thing this year. Yes, that’s actually 99 and I counted. And no, Canada Dry did not sponsor this post.
Cheers, y’all!
Diamond Girl
Epic, Massive, Total Buzzkill
My Saturday and Sunday were spent doing things like adding new Pandora channels, watching The Dark Knight, browsing earrings with text on them on etsy.com and watching my fish eat. Which is to say, anything but thinking about the Giants.
I’d be lying if I said I was excited to write this post. In fact, I’ve kinda-sorta been putting it off. Because I’m more than a little bit crushed. I can deal with losing. No, really. Don’t raise your eyebrow at me like that. I can. But this season has just been a heartbreaker. Especially that beautiful surge right at the end that made it impossible not to hope. Mathematical elimination hurts in any case. 2010 and the organization “having something good going” feels a long way off right about now.
So I am just gazing at my antlers on my dresser (almost that time of year again! Almost It’s Time time!) and trying to muster enjoyment for the last three games of this year and then the postseason.
Once the sting of this all wears off, I’m sure this season will look like a fabulous example of resilience, because the Giants made a hell of a run despite tons and tons- and did I mention tons?- of injuries.
There are, of course, some unfortunate things to come out of this year, foremost in my mind right now being Tim Lincecum’s (and probably Cain, too) dissatisfaction with the Giants and the offense and all that and desire to leave. Really, it was also disappointing to finally get the Bat that Will Save the Offense and have it be a letdown. The Beltran trade was that move every team wants their GM to make at the deadline and this is just an example of it not working out real well. Total buzz kill.
Then again, wasn’t that whole series in Arizona massive, total buzz kill?
I need cupcakes. Pronto. That is all.
Diamond Girl
J-E-T-S and Yeah, Jon Daniels Gives Better Speeches Than Natalie Portman.
I have a vague sense that some important football games happened today. Correct me if I’m wrong on that. I have been alternating between eating little handfuls of cornflakes and yelling, “J-E-T-S!” I think that’s something football fans do. Just goin’ with the trends here.
Some beautiful person put up Jon Daniel’s speech from the Rangers Mid-Winter Banquet (which sounds like some sort of hippie solstice celebration, for the record. I am from Berkeley. I know all about those.) on YouTube. Check it out. I love his speech.
And he didn’t laugh manically at a joke that was basically lame to start with. Big plus.
Otherwise, today’s been very quiet on the baseball front so I started looking at Spring Training tickets. And saw the Rangers are playing the Giants on March 13th. You think if I started building a hot air balloon now it would be done in time to fly to Arizona for the game?
Diamond Girl
Day One in Snowflake Earrings Retrospective: Black Friday Wishlist filled with Rangers Toaster, “Don’t Ask Me, Ask Barry” Tees and More
I am in a good mood today. It’s Day One in snowflake earrings. I have these snowflake earrings I adore, but I only wear them from the day after Thanksgiving ’til the beginning or March or so. I am savoring every day.
So here I am, sitting with my laptop checking store websites to see if there are any good deals. So far: nothing. Nothing that incites me to scream and click “checkout”. Not even anything that incites me to scream under my breath. I am disappointed in Black Friday. It strikes me as a bit like Body Scanner Opt-Out Day… way media hyped and not really that huge a deal. Correct me if I’m wrong, Black Friday-ers!
Anyway, just because I’m not buying doesn’t mean I’m not oogling some stuff. So I decided to make my holiday wish list. Baseball themed holiday wish list, that is. I’m telling the people in my life to buy me silly things like an Evenstar necklace pendant and a Sephora 30 color eye-shadow palette. But this list is just a lot of things I don’t need (I do need an Evenstar pendant, you know) but think are adorable and worth staring at for a few minutes. And a few things I think are too funny not to share.
(I would also like to note that I currently have a Cubs Christmas tree ornament. It’s a little snowman, with a Cubs logo on his front, came straight from Chicago. Very sweet, but I’m not a Cubs fan. So it’s on my dresser. Sort of hidden.)
The Good
Texas Rangers L-O-V-E T-shirt by Majestic Athletic
$21.99
shop.mlb.com
I’m not usually into using something other than a team color to make a shirt more feminine, as I discussed here, but this one is just so adorable. The pink makes sense, here.
San Francisco Giants Women’s “Get on Board” T-shirt
$21.99
shop.mlb.com
Aside from the giant faux-pas of using a font that is/resembles Curlz MT, which is almost as overused as Comic Sans (have I mentioned that I am a font geek?), I want this shirt now. It’s unique and has a San Francisco flare which I love.
Ask Barry T-shirt
$35.4
zazzle.com
Back in the day, the story goes, Barry Zito and Barry Bonds had lockers next to each other and at Spring Training one year, they wore these t-shirts. “Don’t Ask Me, Ask Barry” is a great way to answer people. And an even better way to answer people is to, you know, point at your shirt. So I want one.
Tickets to the Giants vs. Brewers (@ SF) games, July 22nd, 23rd, 24th
Price depending on how generous the giver is.
sfgiants.com
I luv u, Ryan Braun. ‘Nuff said.
San Francisco Giants Dangle Earrings
$17.99 $7.59
amazon.com
If someone gave these to me, I might actually take out my snowflake earrings for a day during Snowflake Earring Season. Might.
The Funny
Boelter San Francisco Giants Personalized Bowl
$39.99
shop.mlb.com
a. I will not pay 39.99 for a bowl. b. Does it come with pretzels? c. PERSONALIZED BOWL? Not cool, darling people. Not cool.
Pangea Texas Rangers ProToast Toaster
$34.99
shop.mlb.com
How do they come up with these things? And I’m taking votes: who thinks they made a piece of toast with the “T” on it and who they thinks they just Photoshopped it in? And why do they sell a Rangers toaster and not a Giants one? Do they think people in Texas eat more toast? Or people in San Fran are all on non-wheat diets?
So who went shopping this Friday and did you find anything incredible? And what’s on your holiday wish list this year?
Will report on Day Two in Snowflake Earrings.
Diamond Girl
p.s. Apologies for the oddness in the font, bolds etc. MLBlogs is being a little weird. I will try to fix it again later.
sfdiamondgirl
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