… now pack up your trash and get out.
In what easily was the most anticipated game of the 2006 season, Anthony Reyes pitched the game of his life: 8 IP, H, R, 6 K.
That’s it. Sheer effing brilliance. It’s a shame the kid took the loss. It’s also a shame that he’s going back down to Memphis. Don’t believe me? Check it:
- Thursday’s loss can be directly traced to the home run Reyes served up to Jim Thome.
- Reyes’ groundball/flyball ratio was 6-12. This is unacceptable, people.
- Reyes struck out as many guys as he retired on grounders. This, too, is unacceptable.
- Reyes is not a mediocre, groundballing journeyman. He is a talented, whiff-inducing youngster. Unacceptable.
Bitter? Only as bitter as the beer I’m drinking.
After having to accept a half-assed Hot Stove League in which the major signing was Juan Encarnacion, we get a rigged spring-training “competition” for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, which went to Sidney Ponson, even though Reyes (and Adam Wainwright, for that matter) clearly outpitched El Sid.
Then Reyes languishes in Memphis (destroying the Pacific Coast League in the process) while the likes of Mark Mulder, Jason Marquis and Ponson (with the occasional Suppan) repeatedly turn in poor-to-bullcrap performances.
Then it takes two blowups of monumental proportions for The Braintrust to realize that maybe, just maybe this Reyes scum might be worth trotting out there.
So yeah, I’m a little bitter. The Perfumed Princes seem to be trotting out every excuse as to why Reyes doesn’t belong with the big club, with Tony La Russa last week going so far to say the kid is “not ready.” Um, Tony? I guess 65 Ks against 8 BB in 71 Triple-A innings is indicative of needing some more seasoning, huh?
What’s the excuse going to be after Thursday’s performance?
June 23, 2006 at 7:53 am
Fine choice of beverage. I hope you have enough to dull the sting brought about by this series.
Dan
June 23, 2006 at 10:49 am
The excuse will be that Mulder will be back in a couple of weeks and that 6 starters aren’t necessary. Book it.
June 23, 2006 at 11:13 am
Well, they could argue he doesn’t wear his hat properly.
That the last time they had a young starter with high socks, he imploded.
That the team doesn’t believe in reyes and that’s why they didn’t score any runs last night.
That Tony LaRussa’s a Genius damnit, and no one’s going to tell him what starter to use, statistics be damned!
June 23, 2006 at 1:24 pm
You’ve probably seen it already, but it looks like Reyes is in the rotation to stay. I’m as skeptical about LaJocketty and pitching prospects as anybody, but I think LaRussa knows a brilliant pitching performance when it punches him in the face like that.