No Spiderman pajamas, but fluorescent orange jerseys?

Monday, August 13, 2007

LYNX: BY THE NUMBERS

The search for that elusive three game winning streak continues (boxscore, play-by-play). It probably shouldn’t matter much given the current standings, but at this point, little victories, playing the part of spoiler and for stats are about all that’s left. Breaking down the numbers, of the losses that have thwarted a three game winning streak (games which go all the way back to May) the Lynx have been outscored 38-11. The misery’s been fairly evenly spread: eight different pitchers have been involved, with only one figuring in two of the streak-breakers.

Like yesterday’s game, the loss could be attributed to errors and unearned runs; unfortunately this time the Lynx came out on the wrong end. With one out in the fourth, a Carlos Leon error allowed a couple of unearned runs to come around. As it turns out, they were all that the Red Wings would need. Unfortunately, the Lynx also ran into a hot pitcher; Rochester’s Nick Blackburn has gone 6-0 over his last 10 starts, with a miniscule 1.64 ERA. In June he absolutely dominated: 5-0, 0 runs allowed, 21 Ks, 1 BB, and two complete game shutouts. Small victory: The Lynx did manage 5 hits off him. Already on Minny’s 40 man roster, a September call-up (if not sooner) seems imminent.

Unlike yesterday’s game, Rochester chose to wear more conventional jerseys - if you want to call day-glo orange, “conventional”. We call foul - clearly yesterday’s floral print coupled with today’s disaster was a successful attempt at messing up our rods and cones. Hell, it’s a miracle they only committed three errors.

Word to the wise: Tomorrow’s 7.05 start should feature J.A. Happ - this may be your last chance to see J.A. before he gets “the call”.

Posted by ottawalynxblog at 5:10 PM

******************************************************************************

Tough one yesterday, with the errors obviously making all the difference in the loss.  Pete Toms offers a great deal of advance scouting on Pawtucket in the “Comments” section of the post.

Switching gears here, as sure as death and taxes, it seems that the local media are dusting off their now all too familiar September Lynx stories;  I have been contacted by a few members of the fourth estate recently as they prepare for the end of the season.  My knee-jerk reaction is to decline, but for the most part I’ve resisted that urge because I think it’s important to try to put things in a different light - even at the 11th hour.  If any of the media are still willing to talk to me (should they read this post), I’m hopeful that there’ll be some reciprocity in the interview - I’ll answer their questions, if they’ll answer this one of mine:  Why have you ignored this team all season?   And I’m not talking about reporting scores;  Why is it that we get the “front-page-of-the-sports-section-major-coverage-of-the-Lynx” only for the last games of the season?  And why is the angle always the same?  With rare exception, the most coverage we get is a game recap.  Few, if any player interviews during the season, or articles about the team in general.  What we do get all summer long are articles about hockey, hockey players, extended families of hockey players  - you get my point.

Here’s my parting challenge: I dare the headline writers to avoid using any bastardized reference from “Casey at the bat” or “Take me out to the ballgame” in the final week of the season.

Okay.  Show’s over for today.  Thanks (once again) for listening.