From: rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (robert and stimets)
Subject: Re: Atlanta, Cinci still trying to maintain interest
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 21:39:55 GMT

In article <Bu81u5.4HK@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (robert and stimets) writes:
>
>Well, there's two ways one can look at what is happening in the NL West
>these days:
>
>   1)  Cincinnati is doing their damnest to end the race and think about next year
>   2)  Atlanta is doing their damnest to keep the race close (more home game
>       sales)
>
>Actually, when the Braves were flying high just two weeks ago they had opened 
>a 7 game lead and seemed to be running away with the title (did I just mix
>a metaphor or two?)  Cinci had seemed to be giving up, and still haven't
>changed that apparent lack of wherewithal. All Atlanta needed to do was to 
>win a few more games to ice the contention.  But no!  They decided to go in
>a slump of their own.  They lost several while the Reds were able to beat up on
>Philadelphia, and suddenly at 3 1/2 games it was a race again!  However, 
>Atlanta--still a .500 team in the last month--had to win a few games in a weeks
>time, and Cinci really sucked last week, going 0-for-7 and 5-for-13 never helps.
>In that time though, the Braves only won enough to stretch the lead to 7 1/2,
>and even watch it shrink to 6 1/2.  
>
>What a pain!!  I posted last week that I was certain the race was over.
>But the Braves aren't cooperating.  So I say to Ted Turner's boys:
>
>    SHIT OR GET OFF THE POT!!!
>
>(excuse me)  If you don't want it, let San Diego have it!  Just don't
>keep me here always with that nagging thought in the back of my mind that 
>the Reds could actually win it.  As they say in those damn annoying AT&T
>commercials, "It just isn't worth it."
>
Watching today's Reds-Astros game further bewildered me:
The offense smoked out of the gate and scored in 4 of the first seven innings
to take a 7-0 lead (that's the good news) but Atlanta had just scored three
runs to take a 3-0 advantage over Los Angeles.  (bad news)
Further, Barry Larkin was forced from the game with an ankle injury he received
in the most bizarre (and annoying) manner:
  You know how the plate umpire will flip the bat away if there is going to 
be a play at home in the interest of player safety etc. ?  Well veteran blue-
man Terry Tata did so as Bill Doran was trying for home following a Hal Morris 
single, but in the process he hit Larkin!  Barry immediately went to the ground 
in some serious pain.
  What was this guy trying to do?  Get the bat to land in the dugout?  Generally 
when a runner slides into home he can do so within a 50' radius of the plate!  
Country Joe would at least hold onto the bat during the play and while making the call.
Maybe this crew chief could learn a thing or two from his partner...

Bip Roberts didn't play today, he left yesterday's game with a reaggravated
ankle injury.
Greg Swindell was taken of the DL today, but isn't expected to pitch for a 
few days yet.  It would sure be nice to see him Thursday in Atlanta!!!

Prediction:  Hal Morris will finish above .310 this year (he's been on a tear)
but won't qualify for the batting title due to a needed 50 plate appearances.
Ain't the DL a bitch?


RStimets


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