Vin Scully, Justice, and Complete Games: Abacus By the Numbers

Three ideas seeking escape from an old and cluttered mind.

At First Glance

 Legendary LA Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully, when asked the meaning of baseball by a nostalgically reflective sportswriter from an equally-legendary national magazine, responded, “Dreams and escape.”

The game shapes our dreams when we're young, and later provides a cozy cocoon of escape

In his subsequent story on July 25, the sportswriter, not quite as concise as Scully, offered this description of a Justin Verlander “slider,” a pitch out of a batter's worst nightmare:

"

“It looked like the ball changed lanes at the last second, a tourist trying not to miss his exit.  Pena swung, sort of…”

"

Even Scully himself should be envious of Sports Illustrated’s Joe Posnanski for that clever wordplay.

And guess who accompanied Posnanski to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City that 109-degree day and perhaps inspired that magical metaphor…none other than that grand high exalted mystic numerologist of the national pastime, Bill James himself.

Ironic, wouldn’t you say?

Ball Two—Just a Bit Outside

In a sadder case of irony and power pitching, could you help but wonder how Roger Clemens was really feeling as the federal prosecutors’ amateurish miscue removed, perhaps irrevocably, any threat of conviction or confinement from his day-to-day life?

Hey, that’s a good thing, right?

But wasn’t Roger out to regain his name and fame, stolen so slanderously by the Mitchells, McNamees and Cansecos of the world?

Such a victory denies what he was actually seeking, his proverbial and literal “day in court.”

Ultimately unsatisfying.

Contrast Clemens’s “good fortune” with Barry Bonds’ BALCO-related legal uncertainty.

Bonds awaits sentencing for a conviction and further developments that could conceivably lead to another trial.

That’s the kind of thing that will bother the sleep even of an insufferable Ego-maniac.

Even if you don’t feel the slightest twinge of sympathy for either of these modern-day tragic figures, you have to shake your head at how this has played out.

Bonds would have gladly, if not graciously, accepted the “freebie” Roger got from the government, while Clemens craved the public forum Barry was required to endure.

Each got what the other guy wanted.

Now that’s “just a bit outside.”

Strike Three

Bob Ryan, the Boston Globe’s and ESPN’s (along with Tony Kornheiser) resident curmudgeon, oft bemoans in baseball what he likes to call “Creeping LaRussa-ism.”

That’s Bob’s name for the platooning, situational substitutions and various other manner of stultifying over-managing of games.

However valid this criticism, Mr. Ryan’s memory must be slipping a tad.

Blame here should go, not so much to LaRussa, but rather to Sparky Anderson, the original “Captain Hook,” so named for his liberal use of the bullpen.

The success of Cincinnati’s Rig Red Machine certainly validated and popularized such a “hands-on” managing style.

Here’s a little something that might please an old-school purist like Mr. Ryan.

MLB starting pitchers are throwing a complete game a day since the season started – 142 CG’s in 140 days through Wednesday.

LaRussa has even let his guys go the distance five separate times.

Can ya believe it, Bob?