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Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

World Series Game 5: St. Louis Cardinals Are Poetic Champs

Matthew T. Sussman — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 11:14:43 EDT

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Detroit nine that day,The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.And then when Magglio Ordonez hit a ground ball out,The Cardinals' fans all roared, the faithful had no doubt.The Tigers' dugout stood, and started to chew gum,It's purely superstition, one laughed upon by some.They thought, "If Sean Casey could but get a whack at that,We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat."For Casey in the fourth had hit a two-run blast,That gave Detroit the lead, although it did not last.And later in the sixth, the mighty Casey stroked a double,But Weaver settled down, and then pitched out of trouble.With one out in the ninth, there rose a lusty yell,It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell.It pounded through the arch and recoiled upon the flat,For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.With one sweet fluid swing, a double came his way(Anticlimactic, sure, but there was still more ball to play)Then Casey, mighty Casey, whose calf had hurt a ton,strolled back to the dugout; Santiago would pinch run.But after Placido Polanco finally drew ball fourQuoth the Cardinals' closer Adam Wainwright: "Nevermore."He struck out Brandon Inge on a fastball quite elusiveSt. Louis fans rejoiced, a reaction quite conclusive.The 83-win Cardinals had won the World SeriesAnd unless you can think of any conspiracy theoriesThey won it fair and square -- I cannot argue that --in five decisive games. You have to tip your hatTo Eckstein, Weaver, Suppan, and 22 more menWho played the game as one, and proved that once againNo matter who's the favorite, the playoffs will decidewhich team can hoist the championship trophy with prideOh somewhere in this favored land, the sun is shining bright(Not in St. Louis, though, because of all that rain last night)And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shoutBut it coulda been much worse, had Sean Casey struck out.

Matt Sussman is the former sports editor of BC Magazine and also writes for Deadspin, SPORTSbyBROOKS, The Futon Report, and the Toledo Free Press. Catch him twice a week with with asst. sports editor Tuffy on Treehouse Fort, the official show of BC Sports.

Feed the feedback back to matt.sussman@blogcritics.org.

World Series Game 4: God Must Want St. Louis To Win For Some Reason

Matthew T. Sussman — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 07:49:06 EDT

Tigers in 5. Look back before the World Series and several analysts will tell you "Tigers in 5."Well, they might be right. The Detroit Tigers may play five games in the World Series. Thing is, the champagne will not be poured on each other's heads like Ted Striker with a drinking problem, but rather poured into their gullets.The St. Louis Cardinals are one game away -- yeah, those same 83-win, one-game-from-missing-the-playoffs, Isringhausen's-arm-turned-into-taffy Cardinals -- from a World Series championship after winning a rather bizarre Game 4, 5-4.Detroit was actually up 3-0 early thanks to Sean Casey's solo home run and RBI single, as well as Ivan Rodriguez breaking his 0-for-something-embarassing slump in the World Series with an RBI hit of his own.I'm fairly certain at some point thereafter I said, "Finally. The world makes sense again."This seemingly innocent comment was then urgently relayed up to heaven, where God's direct phone rang. It was the watchman."God," the man cried, exasperated. "We've got horrible news from the ground!""What is it?" the well-groomed, all-knowing man said. He took a sip of his brandy. "What was so important that you had to interrupt me during The Office?""It's Matt Sussman," the watchman said. "He's figured out the world and all its intricacies. This is no good at all. He'll doom the entire race!""Oh, shit," God said. "He'll figure out the Contra-like code that gives you 50 lives. Yes, I'll think of something quick. Thanks, Chad."So in all his splendor, He decided to make Curtis Granderson slip in the seventh inning.Having already tacked a couple runs in the game, the Cardinals led off the seventh inning with a double by David Eckstein, thanks to Granderson slipping on the slick grass during his canter toward the ball's eventual resting spot. The ball struck the ground with such awe that it dislodged everything I thought I understood about the world.Then So Taguchi laid down a bunt to move Eckstein to third. Pitcher Fernando Rodney fielded the ball barehanded and -- before he threw -- God decided to not only confuse me, but make me forget things I had already known. And then Rodney threw the ball over first baseman Sean Casey's head. Eckstein came in to score and tie the game at 3-3. I immediately forgot everything about fifth grade. How the hell do people perform long division?With Taguchi at second base and two outs, the Tigers coolly walked Albert Pujols with first base open. Rodney then struck out Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen in succession. Almost out of the inning, Preston Wilson came to bat and laced a single through shortstop."That'll teach him," the Lord said. "Now then, I've already missed enough of Grey's Anatomy. Wait, why do I care about missing it? I already know how this one ends!"The next inning, however, the Tigers were able to tie the game on Brandon Inge's double, plating Ivan Rodriguez, and tying the game 4-4.And the world made ... no, I didn't say it. I caught myself."Darn straight," the bearded man said. "And to make sure you never think you know ..." the Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the eighth on Eckstein's third double of the game, this one wicking off a diving Craig Monroe's glove. The Cardinals' 5-4 lead stuck, and put them a game away from their first championship since '82.I could point out the last time the Cardinals had a 3-1 lead in the World Series was 1985, when they dropped the next three games to the Kansas City Royals. And I could mention the Cardinals also had a 3-1 lead in the '68 World Series before ultimately losing to the... Tigers. But I won't, for I'm afraid the man upstairs will take away my motor skills.Annd nnonabodddy wllill waaannt tahaat rtoo hapnn trtotooo meaeee

World Series Game 3: Carpenter Saws Off Tigers' Bats In 5-0 Victory

Matthew T. Sussman — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:52:01 EDT

Déjà vu is the feeling you've written a sentence you have written before. Déjà vu is the feeling you've written a sentence you have written before. Déjà vu is the feeling you've written a sentence you have written before.Watching Game 3 of the World Series was like watching Game 1. Actually, that's just hyperbole. There were lots of differences. Such as:The game was in St. Louis this time, not Detroit.The guest analyst in Fox's pre-game show this time was manager-for-hire Joe Girardi, not Diamondbacks centerfielder and the combless wonder Eric Byrnes.That damn John Mellencamp/Chevrolet Silverado commercial didn't blare through my TV every. Single. Inning. (Just every other inning!)Beyond that, the game was a repeat. Beyond that, the game was a repeat, beyond that the game was a repeat.In both Games 1 and 3, the St. Louis Cardinals won by five thank to their starting pitcher lasting eight innings. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers struggled to reach base, their starter only lasted five innings, and the defense gift-wrapped unearned runs for their opponent.Same game if ya ask me. In Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Tigers, Chris Carpenter pitched like the Cy Young Award winner we know him to be and not the home run vendor he was in last week's NLCS. He went eight innings, allowing zero runs, three hits, and no walks.Everybody in the Cardinals lineup from the strong-like-bull Albert Pujols to the scrappy sidekick David Eckstein contributed hits, runs, and RBIs to vault ahead of the Tigers in the best-of-seven series, two games to one. With the next two games in friendly Busch Stadium, the Cardinals are conveniently perched to win out and nest their first championship since 1982. As for the Tigers, well -- let's see, what mammalian metaphor can I use here? -- there's a thorn in their paw, and unfortunately they put it there themselves.In three games, Detroit is averaging six hits, one walk, and two runs per game. They have also committed five errors that turned into three generous runs for the Cardinals. The latest error came last night when hard-throwing relief pitcher Joel Zumaya threw away a certain double play ball, allowing two runs to score. (It's okay to throw balls by the batters, just not your own third baseman.)More thorny issues: Tigers pitching gave up eight -- eight! -- walks to the Cardinals in Game 3 alone. Compare that to Cardinals pitching, which has walked three batters all series.I could crunch more numbers, but each stat would make me cry over and over.The Tigers postseason is turning into a microcosm of the regular season -- hot first half, cold second half. After a seven-game winning streak earlier in the playoffs, they are now playing like the team that the Kansas City Royals bullied at the end of the year.Which means I've seen this before, and I didn't like the outcome then.

World Series Game 2: Mellencamp Wants You To Buy A Chevrolet Silverado

Matthew T. Sussman — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 02:44:25 EDT

You know, at some point we're all going to wake up and Kenny Rogers will be just another hot-tempered postseason who turns into a batting practice machine in October. For now, he's a 41-year-old man with a 0.00 ERA and three wins, the latest coming Sunday night in a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. (Also, Chevrolet has a new truck, called the Silverado. I heard that somewhere.)Now this was more like it, the Detroit faithful said. The heavily favored Tigers apparently forgot that embarrassing 7-2 loss in Game 1. In fact, if you ask them, they'll probably say, "Game 1? What Game 1? We played a Game 1?" Indeed, manager Jim Leyland reprogrammed their brains to think the only important game is the next one.So, by all logic, the Tigers will forget Game 2 ever happened. Hopefully, they remember to board the plane as Game 3 is in St. Louis Tuesday.(This break in the article brought to you by the new Chevrolet Silverado. "♫ This is our country! ♫")But while the score was close, the Tigers could have had several more runs on the board. The fourth inning started with a hit-by-pitch, a single, and a fielding error to load the bases without any out. Jeff Weaver, the prodigal pitcher who returneth (he used to pitch for Detroit), struck out Curtis Granderson, induced a popup by Craig Monroe, and got Gortex-wearing Placido Polanco grounded out to kill any chances of scoring runs. In all, the Tigers left 10 runners on base.In the other dugout, the Cardinals' bats were not nearly as intimate with the baseball as the night previous. Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds got in their hits, but the impregnable Albert Pujols went 0-for-3 with a walk. The Cardinals were limited to a mere four base hits, but that was mainly because Rogers' performance was as strong and tough as the new Chevrolet Silverado.And two of the Cardinals didn't even come off Rogers. They came in the ninth inning when Todd "One-derpants" Jones allowed a run and loaded the bases before getting Yadier Molina to ground out, ending the game. Jones probably has as many saves this postseason as Detroit area hospitals have tended to spurts of cardiac arrests. But he always gets the job done.The story after the game, beyond the dominance of Rogers and the awesome new Chevrolet Silverado, was the little glob of schmutz found on Rogers' pitching hand. Fox Sports cameras caught footage of something, and the booth suspected it to be pine tar -- a big no-no. After the game Kenny Rogers said it was a clump of dirt, and after the first inning he washed it off. Extremely suspicious, but the umpires and Cardinals appear to be content with the explanation that it was just dirt, which is not a foreign substance. (The last paragraph in this article brought to you by the new Chevrolet Silverado. "♫ This is our country! ♫")

World Series Game One: Rock Me Anthony Reyes

Matthew T. Sussman — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 03:35:18 EDT

Remind me again why I was excited for the World Series? If I recall, it was something about how the Tigers were on such a remarkable hot streak, winning seven straight postseason games. Anticipating the first World Series involving the Tigers I can cognitively remember, I even liveblogged it.In retrospect, I can safely conclude that was the worst liveblog in the history of livebloggery. (Ask Sal. He'll vouch.) Now I wish I couldn't cognitively remember Saturday night as the St. Louis Cardinals flew away with that one, 7-2.The liveblog -- er, game -- started out fine as Detroit struck early with a 1-0 lead in the first inning. But two hours later, St. Louis scored considerably more than that in their improbable win.I say "improbable" because, well, who among you not wearing a uniform featuring birds perched on a bat thought they'd win Game 1 with a rookie starting pitcher? Well, sure, Justin Verlander was starting for the Tigers, and he was a rookie, but he won 17 games in the regular season, whereas Reyes went 5-8 with a plus-five ERA for the year. Honestly, who would give the Cardinals the victory in that matchup?Well, reality did.Reyes was Verlanderesque, lasting eight innings and allowing just two runs. Meanwhile, Verlander was downright Reyesian in his five-inning, seven-run performance.Exciting and a great outcome -- unless you're within spitting distance of a Great Lake.After Scott Rolen crushed a home run in the second to tie the game at 1-1, the following inning put the Cards up for good. After Yadier Molina -- the hero in Game 7 of the NLCS -- doubled in a run to give St. Louis the lead, Albert Pujols took Verlander's first pitch the other way for a quick and painful two-run home run. The pitch was an 88 mph fastball -- about 10 mph slower than Verlander's typical shutdown pitch. I think I know why the National League's best hitter was able to clobber that one for a home run. Do you, Detective Obvious?In the sixth inning, St. Louis -- with a friendly boost in the form of three Detroit errors -- scored thrice, solidifying the game as a shocking yet convincing win.But while St. Louis was scoring all these runs in the top halves of the innings, Reyes had Detroit under martial law. He didn't allow a single baserunner from the second through sixth innings. Even more impressive was that Reyes didn't just have a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, he had a 1-2 inning. Well, that's according to ESPN's play-by-play account. Apparently Curtis Granderson's at-bat was wiped clean from the record books. Could somebody call up ESPN and see if they can use that same technology to wipe my memory of this game? And while they're at it, my liveblog?