Once again, it's Friday, and it's really really late, and I've been busy and I'll be busy again tomorrow, so I don't feel like writing very much. You'll live. There's only so much you can say about a game like that from an outsider's perspective, anyway. I mean, that loss was obviously devastating for the Rangers and for all of their fans, and we can understand that, but we can't tap into it. I can't pretend like the disappointment I felt tonight is in any way comparable to theirs. This was just one of those nightmare games that you watch and come away thankful that it didn't happen to your team instead.
Alternatively I guess maybe you were watching this game and rooting for the Yankees, and you found it much less heartbreaking and much more invigorating, but, whatever. That's a stupid thing.
This was an unbelievable rally that happened with unbelievable speed, and it's just another classic we can add to the list of classics played since last Wednesday. But rather than address how much of a classic it was, I just want to note one thing: this game was also unpredictable.
I don't mean the 5-0 lead and the 6-5 comeback. I mean this:
Tonight's game featured CC Sabathia and C.J. Wilson. Two of the better lefties in the league, who pitch really well against left-handed hitters. After Wilson, the Rangers trotted out a bunch of lefty relief. So where did most of the offense come from? The left-handed hitters that, coming in, looked like they'd be shut down. Cano had a huge influence. Hamilton had a huge influence. Granderson and Gardner played their roles, as well. And who knew? Who could've predicted this? Who could've predicted that Josh Hamilton would turn on an 0-2 slider and yank it over the wall?
This isn't anything groundbreaking. It's a reminder that, when you're talking about one single game, literally anything can happen. Baseball, on an individual game level, is nearly impossible to predict. And so it follows that baseball, in best-of-five or best-of-seven series, is similarly impossible to predict. Series are more predictable than individual games, but individual games are about as unpredictable as things get, so that isn't saying much.
Game previews and series previews - they're all well and good. It's important to point out things you think could make a difference. But any key to any game or any series should be followed by a paragraph dedicated to answering the question: will this or will this not matter? And over single games, or single weeks, even the most perceptive, thoughtful point might amount to a hill of beans.
Left-handed hitters were working from a severe platoon disadvantage tonight. You wouldn't know it from the box score.
0 recs | 46 comments
Jeff....
I mean this in the nicest way, but it seems like every post you write begins with complaining about what you do or how long you do it… and that’s hard to get past.
I’ve followed your stuff for years… been to many USSM/LL events… this isn’t coming from a troll.
You write about baseball. Mainly/hopefully for a living.
Might I suggest that if you rejoice in it, keep the bad bits of it to yourself, or maybe consider doing something else as a primary occupation?
If you like it… love it. If it’s horrible/time consuming/a pain, but you still want to do it… I suggest following your professionally paid leads and just write about the sport. The other stuff just gets in the way…most likely preventing you from gaining greater compensation in future.
And if you don’t like it… you can’t leave it out… Maybe this isn’t the best thing to be doing 12+ hours a day?…
Again, I love all you write and appreciate your time… just wish you could be happier about it.
egreenlaw9 - October 16, 2010
Every post?
I was just explaining why I don’t have a series of bullet points for a bullet pointable game is all. No complaints.
Jeff Sullivan - October 16, 2010
I actually quite enjoy this!
I literally get to work in my underoos if I want!
(I do not want)
Jeff Sullivan - October 16, 2010
You did not deny owning Underoos.
Patrick Stites - October 16, 2010 via mobile
Underoos are very useful.
the pre-matched sets save time, and so more time to write!
msb - October 16, 2010
I can just imagine Jeff in some Wonder Woman Underoos.
He is so cute.
Patrick Stites - October 17, 2010
the fact that you have anything at all written is more than most sites.
I’m a white sox fan by trade, but this is the one site i read even though i’m not invested in the team whatsoever. It’s because of the writing. I think you are doing just fine.
boyonthedock - October 16, 2010
Word!
As a huge Mariner’s fan since first grade when I moved to Federal Way in 1991 (I have since lived in Anchorage, Alaska for 19 years and now live in Billings, MT, which fortunately for me both have FSN and Anchorage even had every game on the radio too!), this is my first year on Lookout Landing. I had gone to USSM occasionally in years past and enjoyed it very much but for whatever reason never made it here. I am so thankful to have found it. Jeff’s writing made this one of the most entertaining seasons I’ve had as a fan even though the season was so bad. It would have been intolerable without it. While I still like USSM, and the content while not as robust since Dave started working for FanGraphs is still fantastic, the sheer amount of quality, well thought out, and entertaining content on LL cannot be matched. I feel blessed to have found this site.
scottg02 - October 16, 2010
I'm new to LL this year.
So grain of salt here:
I see where this is coming from, but I imagine that it’s the result of a long and depressing season. And if it’s not, and Jeff does intros like this even in good years, I still like it. The negativity is funny. And it’s really not that negative — this opening paragraph is pretty spot-on. So what if he begins with a caveat that he’s tired?
Jeff has been able to note that we’ll miss baseball when it’s gone. I have firmly gotten the impression that he loves the sport and his job. Perhaps diving headlong into the darkness, accepting the negativity of a lost season, and bringing out sarcastic humor (“Mariners baseball!” as an oft-repeated, yet accessible and continuously relevant refrain) is a way of rejoicing in his job.
This comment sucks, I’m sorry. I just take issue with the suggestion that Jeff’s honesty and sense of humor may prevent him from getting a raise or whatever you’re envisioning. I would hire Jeff to liveblog my final exams, my wedding — fuck, if I had the money, I would hire Jeff to liveblog my breakfasts in the offseason.
Joe Metro - October 16, 2010
And here's a little more background for the new-ish posters of LL
Jeff is famous, or infamous if you’re not a fan of long, well-written, and funny posts, for writing posts that begin “here’s a few quick bullet points” and then going on for 345 paragraphs. This is by no means a bad thing. So LLongtime readers are used to Jeff writing a doctoral dissertation about a meaningless 4-0 loss in June, and since these games carry a bit more weight, could reasonably be expected to Jeff giving them the same treatment. When he doesn’t feel like it, he writes intros like the one you see above.
Not every word is meant to be taken literally – except the part about the underoos.
pdb - October 16, 2010
I feel guilty when I don't write the dissertations :(
Jeff Sullivan - October 16, 2010
At this point in your writing career you owe explanations of motive to nobody
pdb - October 16, 2010
I think I like your bullet points better because they are better suited for people with the attention span of a termite.
Robert - October 16, 2010
That's why I write them!
Jeff Sullivan - October 16, 2010
I hear you, man.
JY - October 16, 2010
I am accepting offers!
Jeff Sullivan - October 16, 2010
I have no money but I also don't eat complicated breakfasts
think of it as keeping yourself limber until the real work starts.
pdb - October 16, 2010
The Mariners didn't play complicated games
Jeff Sullivan - October 16, 2010
Nor did they put sliced bananas in their Cheerios
new angles to write about!
pdb - October 16, 2010
This comment didn't suck. Jeff has lead off a number of his posts like this lately.
This comment was constructive criticism. It may not have been 100% accurate in identifying Jeff’s motives, but that does not mean it is wise for Jeff to ignore what was said.
I would follow by saying that Jeff needs to stop apologizing at all for how he crafts his content. It is clear people will keep coming back no matter what he does.
Sec 108 - October 16, 2010
I have started two posts like this recently
Yesterday, and last Friday. And it’s simply to explain why I didn’t write a ton about a very interesting baseball game.
I suppose these intros may be unnecessary.
Jeff Sullivan - October 16, 2010
They are. You are too much of a pro to write a lazy post.
So even if something doesn’t measure up in your mind do not apologize ahead of time because most people will not notice.
Sec 108 - October 16, 2010
Old habits die hard
Jeff Sullivan - October 16, 2010
Editing is your friend
But do whatever the fuck you want. The personal asides and randomness are one of the great parts of your writing. If people want mainstream they should go to the main SB Nation page, where there are lots of straight-reportage articles that nobody reads.
lemonverbena - October 16, 2010
Sorry, by "this comment" I was referring to the one I was writing.
Self-awareness!
Joe Metro - October 16, 2010
This sounds fairly reasonable and rational, and makes me wish that I could review a posted flag.
Kermit. - October 16, 2010
Like Sec 108 said, this comment does not suck at all
It’s polite and praising and he makes what would be a legitimate point if it weren’t based on a false premise. egreen’s mistake is to confuse Jeff’s backhanded apology for trying to have a life outside his mother’s basement and not woking more on the weekends for complaining about his work.
Bearskin Rugburn - October 16, 2010
I read it more as a... well as an apology for not writing more for us on a late Friday night
which is quite touching actually.
Bearskin Rugburn - October 16, 2010
I WISH THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE INTERNET WOULD REALIZE THEY NEED TO MAKE IT THEIR LIFE 24/7
I mean, c’mon! Who needs families, restaurants, bands, bars, or fun when you have the internet, right?
pdb - October 16, 2010
Two things:
1. From LSB:
Adding a player to your roster just to face one person? Really? Cano is good and all, but it’s not like he’s Barry Bonds or Albert Pujols. This seems unwise.
2.This is the first Yankee playoff game that I found entertaining this October.
Goose - October 16, 2010
It seems silly to add a guy just for one hitter, but then, 25 men in a short series - you have some space to burn
As for #2, yeah. Game 1 of their ALDS was entertaining for a bit, but then it dragged.
Jeff Sullivan - October 16, 2010
Can't we just have a Giants-Phillies World Series?
NeighborTom2 - October 16, 2010
Starts at 4:30 PDT
lemonverbena - October 16, 2010
Seriously, this is typically how I view the ALCS. Pretty rare for me to watch or care about the World Series
But this year? C’mon. Yankees and Rangers can both bite my ass and die in a fire, so the best possible outcome of this series is they exchange hilariously painful losses and Cliff Lee is flawlessly beautiful. Yet one of them advances. Boooo.
NLCS is for the first time (for me) the more interesting race.
Kermit. - October 16, 2010
I'm curious.
I only saw the game on gamecast. Was Washingtonjust panicking when he decided to change pitchers after every batter or did it seem pre-planned?
Hopefulmsfan - October 16, 2010
The moves made tactical sense, righty vs righty then lefty vs lefty
but it created a strange effect when these guys mostly threw just one pitch — and these pitches were so often hammered… other than the interval of veteran Darren Oliver coming in and walking two straight
ignacio - October 16, 2010
Gardner may have provided the spark, but Oliver got the snowball rolling. He was terrible.
HamFighter! - October 16, 2010
This game was more depressing than the Mariners entire season
Poochie - October 16, 2010
Let's not say things we can't take back.
sanford_and_son - October 16, 2010
I chose my word carefully
Poochie - October 16, 2010
Not remotely possible
lemonverbena - October 16, 2010
Next time don't wager with your firstborn
Bearskin Rugburn - October 16, 2010
Why not? He can always make another that looks just like it.
JAH - October 17, 2010
I saw the score when I was leaving the Sounders game and I think I cheered harder than I did for either of our goals.
Robert - October 16, 2010
Its a shame they couldn't both lose.
Although this was about as good as I could hope for. CC getting roughed up, and the Rangers not getting anywhere.
FairWeatherFred - October 16, 2010
The best part is that the Rangers still haven't won a home playoff game.
They must really love their fans.
Robert - October 16, 2010
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