Pitching is such a vital part of the game, as far as winning is concerned.

On most teams the set up man has become more valuable, on others not so valuable.

Something to keep in mind — it’s raining lightly. The infield could be very wet on ground balls.

What is a drop and drive pitcher? He is a guy who drops and drives. Very simple.

So by guessing right you might have guessed wrong.

Giambi walks too much. He’s always clogging up the bases with all that walking.

As a new day begins in New York, the sun sets in Hawaii.

If football is a game of inches then baseball is a game of inch.

If that ball had more elevation, it would have been a home run.

If the double play is a pitcher’s best friend, what is a fielder’s choice? An acquaintance?

It’s better to have a fast runner on base than a slow one.

One thing about ground balls. They don’t go out of the ball park.

The reason we call that pitch up and in is because the arms are attached to the shoulder.

He wears his hat like a left hander!

Any ball that goes down is much heavier than any ball that stays on the same plane.

The blood on his sock looks exactly like Oklahoma!

You don’t want to use too many statistics. The ones that apply to a July or August game won’t be relevant on Saturday.

American McCarver

Knobby’s Yips

By John Gruber, July 6, 2011

Regarding the start of Roger Clemens’s perjury trial, I was looking for an article that makes it clear how Clemens dug his own hole — how his testimony to Congress was volunteered. He wanted to tell what appear to be…

Baseball

Lying is Bad

By Michele Catalano, July 6, 2011

The day after the biggest trial since that one trial ended, another big trial begins. Well, I wouldn’t say it’s big. Maybe it’s big only to baseball fans. Or only to people who really dislike Roger Clemens. You know, the…

Baseball

Baseball’s Big Hair Era

By John Gruber, July 5, 2011

Fantastic set of portraits by Paul Windle of baseball’s big hair era. (Via John Nack.)…

Baseball

Dodgers Blew

By Greg Knauss, July 5, 2011

So when, exactly, do you give up? When do you tuck your hopes into a small teak box — the one with a little ballerina that spins around when you open it up — and stuff it deep into your…

Baseball

I’m Hoping Someone Passed Kevin Mitchell a Cigarette

By Michael Sippey, July 5, 2011

Because after writing this paragraph in his coverage of the women’s final this weekend in The Guardian, he clearly needed one… The beauty of Sharapova goes beyond her long legs and blonde hair. Her tennis is engaged with a…

Tennis

If You Leave Me Now

By Michele Catalano, July 5, 2011

You know what’s worse than a breakup? An impending breakup. The kind of breakup where you spend your entire existence wondering if the love of your life is getting ready to leave you. It’s been threatened. It’s been talked about….

Hockey

‘Christopher Walken’ on Hot Dogs

By John Gruber, July 4, 2011

In the late ’90s, predating their web archive, The Onion ran an occasional column called “Walken in L.A.” I can think of no better way to cap off The Fourth than with a link to his masterpiece on hot dogs:…

Eating

Kobayashi Scored 69

By John Gruber, July 4, 2011

Put an asterisk next to Joey Chestnut’s win today — Kobayashi gobbled down a record-breaking 69 hot dogs in a rival contest across town….

Eating

The Tao of Garry Templeton

By Philip Michaels, July 4, 2011

I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe Overlooked Player Having a Strong First-Half wasn’t picked to be on this year’s All-Star Team. It’s an outrage that Aging Superstar Posting Less-Than-Stellar Numbers took a roster spot that could…

Baseball