Baseballhead:
Postseason Now

Michael Cox

Hello, meteor! Linked worldwide, from Portugal Online to the Downer's Grove High School Library, it's Baseballhead, where our copy of The Sims just arrived, so our attention span could end at any moment.

In case you missed this past weekend's games -- what were you thinking? The past few days featured MLB's likely playoff teams, matched up almost exactly as they would be in the Division Series. And after the dust cleared, if this is anything upon which to base a prediction (and if the Giants don't end up on top of the D-Backs), we'll be seeing a Mariners-White Sox ALCS, and a Braves-Mets rematch in the NL.

Excuse me if I yawn at the potential for another mutual-civic-hatred-fest of an NLCS, sponsored by Time/Warner and the New York tabloids, each trying to out-hype and out-scoop the other. Time/Warner won last year, but they had to wait to interview John Rocker to do it. Can they retain their crown as World Pot-Stirring champions? Or will the Daily News receive anonymous incriminating photos of Tom Glavine and Andruw Jones with Scores girls?

Meanwhile, in the AL there could be two (mostly) young teams duking it out for the right for first dibs on Team of the '00s. Both are well-balanced teams with depth in pitching (moreso the M's) and lineups that can both get on base and hit for power (moreso the Sox). You can get a sneak peek at the potential ALCS beginning today, as the M's play four in New Comiskey. It's not going to feature insults, bad politicians and poor fan manners like the possible NLCS, but...oh. I almost forgot that that's a good thing.

Item: While being pummeled senseless by Seattle last weekend, the Yankees shifted into full panic mode. Da Boss and Co. claimed The Great Jose Canseco off waivers on Monday, with the Devil Rays apparently just wanting to get rid of his salary (what, and keep Fred McGriff?). Of course, the next question is where Jose will play, and for how long until he's hurt again.

As they picked up the now-"aging slugger," the Yankees' past week has revealed just how much of a weakness their pitching staff really is. In effect, they're becoming the 1996-99 Mariners, while the M's have started looking like the '96-99 Yanks. It's kinda like watching The Fly (the original, not the Jeff Goldblum version).

Adding to the Bronx buzz was Orlando Hernandez' public declaration that unspecified Yankee coaches thought he was faking the pain in his pitching shoulder. He later apologized for saying it to the press -- but not for thinking it in the first place. Then he went out and got shelled. Didn't we go through this already with Hideki Irabu? Steinbrenner has got to be paying assistants to keep him away from microphones right now.

Item: Using up all my yearly allotment of words about the home team, I was in attendance at the 19-inning Red Sox/Mariners tilt last Tuesday night. Yes, for the whole thing. Actually, after about the 13th, you feel committed to stick it out to the end, even if that end didn't come until 1 am Pacific/4 am Eastern. Interesting highlights:

• Nomar Garciaparra's batting average declined five points during the game.
  
• Al Martin, who leads the majors in wives, received a standing ovation for a diving catch in the first that Mike Cameron would have made flat-footed, then muffed two later balls that may have caused the game to go into bonus panels. What Martin, who makes Glenallen Hill look like a Gold Glover, was doing in center field I'm still not sure. (Cameron later replaced Martin, then hit the game-winning homer.)
  
• It's always tough luck to pitch what should be a complete game, as John Halama did, yet come away with a no-decision. I was actually rooting for him to come out in the 10th.
  
• Both teams played with fire in the later innings, as the Red Sox trotted out Rod "Lighter Fluid" Beck, and the M's countered with Jose "180-Proof" Mesa. Amazingly, neither gave up a run.
  
• The M's video personnel ran out of inspirational "let's go get 'em" clips by the 12th. If you've never been subjected to these at your home ballpark, consider yourself lucky. Apparently not realizing they have sold about 20K seats to regular attendees, the Mariners insist that their 4-5 different videos won't ever weigh on anyone's nerves. This despite the fact that the rotation consists of one from "Rocky II," one from "Animal House," and one from "The Knute Rockne Story," but none containing even trace amounts of baseball.
  
• The last game of this length (time-wise) in Seattle was in 1992 at the old Kingdome, where it was impossible to get any food after the 8th. Not only was food available throughout last week's contest, there was free coffee during the 11th-12th innings. Day workers rule over civil servants.
  
• The Wave still blows.

Item: Speaking of the BoSox, no sooner did Carl Everett get back into his doubleknits than he reminded everyone why he was suspended in the first place. Nobody could hear exactly what he and manager Jimy Williams were arguing about, but everyone could hear just what Everett thinks Williams is (unfortunately, no one can print it).

Later, Everett went on at great length about how he no longer talks to the press, while Williams said he "will handle it in-house." Will? Sounds like it ain't over. Just protect your face, Jimy.

Item: Sammy! We understand you would like to remain a Cub now! You can stop telling us!

Item: While preparing for a game against the Cards in St. Louis, John Rocker bumps a cameraman. The cameraman and accompanying reporter claim it was on purpose (film at 11). Rocker says it was an accident. No one else gives a rat's ass. If that's news, I'm expecting to see an expose on how eating paste is gross.

Well, that just about rounds up the week. Until next time, it's a...AAAAA! The Atmosphere!!

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