Kenny Mack and I argue on The Sully Baseball Show

Monday Night Around The Majors/The Sully Baseball Show 04/16 by Seamheads | Blog Talk Radio

I had a completely different Podcast ready for tonight. And then I got a call from my friend Kenny Mack. And I recorded our call. We argued. We got under each others skin. And I actually ended editing out some of my insults.

It is on the second hour of the Seamheads Tuesday night block.

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Kenny Mack returns to The Sully Baseball Show

The always funny and insightful Kenny Mack joins me on The Sully Baseball Show tonight.

(He's on the right.)

Listen below

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I predicted Bengie Molina's triple

Last night was a super rotten night for the Red Sox and their fans... but I at least had a prediction come true and had at least something fun happen in an ugly loss.

My wife and kids are up north for a few days so living like a bachelor, I decided to swing by Sonny McLean's in Santa Monica and watch the Red Sox game with my people.

The Sox were tied when I showed up and in the middle of a rain delay. Then Beltre homered for the Sox and briefly there was a lead.

And then I got some company.

My good friend, writer for the Santa Monica Free Press and former 5th grade classmate Kenny Mack arrived.

And the second he showed up, the Red Sox blew the lead.

He blamed himself.

I just relay the facts.

The game was ugly for so many reasons... not the least of which was the number of players wearing #50 and higher.

With all the injuries on the team it looked like a split squad spring training game.

There were too many Eric Pattersons, Kevin Cashes, Ryan Shealys, Felix Doubronts, Fernando Cabreras and Dustin Richardsons for my taste.

I kept thinking "Where's Beckett? Pedroia? Buchholz? Ellsbury? Varitek? Martinez?" and expecting the answer to be "Oh they are on the squad playing in Jupiter."

The Sox put a few feeble rallies together but couldn't cut the lead down.

And up stepped Bengie Molina.

His Grand Slam turned a tie game into a 4 run hole and by the look of how his uniform fit, he had also experienced a few Denny's Grand Slams since coming over from San Francisco.

The NESN broadcast showed he had doubled, singled and hit the grand slam.

I said "Watch. He's hitting a triple here."

Kenny witnessed it. As did the people at the bar.

Now last year I wrote about Bengie Molina's ability to triples. He had 5 career triples (in 4,997 plate appearances) going into that at bat.

"He's going to do it" I yelled.

And then it happened... a drive to center field into the triangle... a place where anyone could run out a triple.

And it bounced off of Patterson's glove in centerfield and it was off to the races with Molina.

I think James Caan in Misery would have been lighter on his feet than Molina.

And there he was on third.

And I called it.

Now granted I was calling it somewhat tongue in cheek. But hey! I'll take the credit.

The only question was was the official scorer going to call it an error or a triple. Kenny was convinced it should be called an error.

I kept thinking "Come on scorekeeper! Give him the triple!"

And he did.

I thought of the scene in 1776 when the anonymous Judge Wilson realizes his yes or no vote would determine whether or not America would have its independence. He votes yes because he couldn't take the responsibility of saying no.

That was the scorekeeper. He didn't want the responsibility of denying Bengie Molina the triple and the cycle.

(Trust me that analogy makes perfect sense.)

Oh well... this season is slowly inching towards "Lost cause ville"

Go to 5:00 of this clip and keep in mind that one "no" vote from a state would kill the Independence movement. It's a great (albeit not letterboxed) scene. Then you will see how brilliant my analogy is.

(Trust me.)

Celtics Magic number is 4

Maybe it was appropriate that Nate Robinson was the hero for the Celtics tonight... a guy I forgot was even on the roster.

He's #4... which is exactly the number of wins I hope the Celtics have left in them to get banner #18.

After the hiccup of the Game 4 overtime and Game 5, they are back to being a team that doesn't look intimidated by anyone. Not Wade's Heat.. Not LeBron's Cavs... Not Howard's Magic...

Why should Kobe's Lakers be any different?

I talked to my friend Kenny Mack, the great writer for the Santa Monica Daily Press, who knows a crap load more than me about basketball, broke down the Celtics chances in the Finals.

"We are 4 wins away not only from raising banner #18 and our second in 3 years... but it will officially put an asterix next to the Lakers title last year. Garnett was hurt, otherwise we'd be talking three-peat."

Kenny began to breakdown the Lakers player by player to me showing why the Celtics have more than a punchers chance to win.

I stopped him. "There is one important thing that the Celtics have that the Lakers don't right now... they've already clinched a spot in the Finals!"

LET'S GO SUNS! LET'S GO SUNS!

a Motley Crew at the San Francisco Saloon witnesses a bullet dodging

Watched the Red Sox tonight with my brother Ted, Santa Monica Daily Press writer Kenny Mack (an elementary school classmate of mine), the brilliant writer and editor Greg Lee (a high school classmate of mine) and the great actor P. J. Marino (who acted in a film I directed.)

Normally a group that diverse in my life will be at my wedding... or a strange dream where I am naked running to the SATs.

But instead we were in Los Angeles and a place called the San Francisco Saloon watching Boston baseball from Toronto.

It was a strange night.

It was a strange game for that matter.

When I arrived it was already 6-2 Boston.

An early 4 run lead with Beckett on the mound?

A walk in the park, right?

Well there were walks alright, and a lot of balls hit OUT of the park!

When the Jays tied the score 7-7, we all began grumbling about how this wasn't a playoff team.

Then the Blue Jays fielded an Alex Gonzalez bunt with the grace and dignity of the end credits of a Benny Hill episode.

And when Bard got into some trouble in came Papelbon... who proceeded to either walk anyone he faced or hang a dangling curve ball that any mere mortal could smack into the upper deck.

10-9 was the final.

When Josh Beckett starts and you score 10 runs, there should be no tension in the 9th.

LIKE IT MATTERS!!!!

It's a win! And there's no style points for victory.

Just win.

It was a great night and a wonderful cross section of my life all sighed in relief.

A bullet was dodged and the board needs an update.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 17

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

July 10 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Pedroia drives in the only run with 2 outs in the 8th.)

July 30 - 8-5 win against Oakland. (Ortiz tests postive then hits a 2 out 3 run go ahead homer.)

July 31 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Youk's 2 run homer saves Smoltz from another bad start.)

August 10 - 6-5 win against Detroit. (Sox snap 6 game losing streak with 7th inning rally.)

August 14 - 8-4 win at Texas. (Victor Martinez hits a 2 run 2 strike 2 out double to take the lead and make up for Buchholz's baserunning mishap.)

August 18 - 10-9 win at Toronto. (Ortiz homers and the Jays defense collapses, saving Beckett from a bad start.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 22

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

July 9 - 8-6 loss to the Royals. (Bullpen blows early 4-0 lead.)

July 21 - 4-2 loss at Texas. (Beckett loses a complete game and the Yankees take over first.)

July 22 - 3-1 loss at Texas. (Sox are swept for the first time all season.)

July 28 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox blow 3 run lead in 9th. A's rally with 2 outs in 9th and 11th.)

July 29 - 8-6 loss to Oakland. (Down 5-0 in the first, Sox comeback falls short)

August 4 - 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay. (Longoria hits 13th inning walk off with first base open.)

August 5 - 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox gets swept in a 2 game series with the tying run at the plate).

August 7 - 2-0 loss in New York. (A-Rod's walk off with 2 outs in the 15 ends a teeth grinding marathon.)

August 9 - 5-2 loss in New York. (4 outs from avoiding a sweep, Bard lets up back to back homers to Damon and Teixeira.)

August 13 - 2-0 loss to Detroit. (Verlander wiggles out of early and late jams.)

August 16 - 4-3 loss at Texas. (Red Sox can't rally and fall behind the Rangers in the Wild Card race)

-5... Inching closer to par.

I hope the San Francisco Saloon Company appreciates the plug!!!

An Early Birthday Present for Sully... a trip to the ballpark

I went to the Sox/Angels game,  my first ball game of the year... and as a resident of Los Angeles County, I can tell you that the Angels have no business calling themselves Los Angeles!

But I saw my Red Sox drop an 8-4 game to the Angels. I successfully missed seeing all four of the Red Sox runs but managed to see the Angels pound Tim Wakefield.

Well, he was our ace for a while... you live by him and you die by him.

One day he'll nearly throw a no hitter... the next he can't hold a 4-0 lead.

Besides, the Angels pitcher Matt Palmer settled down and did the unthinkable:

He threw a complete game.

WHAT A MIRACLE! A pitcher settled down and completed a game. Better send a copy of that game to Cooperstown!

It was cool to see Daniel Bard's big league debut. He threw gas, and if this is a sign of things to come, our bullpen might have another home grown flame thrower in the mix.

Either way, although it was a loss, 8-4 losses are easier to handle. It wasn't our night.

But it was the night before your pal Sully's birthday. (Today I turn 37.)

And I got to see it with my pal Kenny Mack, the writer for the Santa Monica Daily Press and a classmate of mine at the Woodland School in Weston Massachusetts when we were 10.

Back then we were a pair of goof balls talking about the Red Sox.

Good to see we grew up!

Sweet 17

I woke up this morning and the Celtics were still NBA Champs!

There were so many amazing things about last night that the only thing I can do is list them...

- The Celtics won the NBA Title.
I am savoring it. When I was younger during the Bird/McHale/Parish years it seemed like the Celtics were going to be in the Finals every year... or at least have a 76ers or Pistons stop them in the Conference Finals.

I never thought it would be 22 years... 22 years?
Kids born when the Celtics beat the Rockets in 1986 are now graduating from college.

- The Celtics won by 39 points
Read that sentence again. They were up 43 in the 4th... there was a chance that this would have been the biggest ass kicking in any finals game in history before the Celtics had to settle for the biggest ass kicking in any elimination game.

How do you lose by nearly 40 when your season is on the line?
20 would be bad enough.

I called Michael Bernard, one of the biggest and most loyal Celtic fans I know, after the third quarter when it was 89-60. He said "This might be an interesting experiment. Don't have the Celtics shoot. Just dribble the ball out for 24 seconds each possession and hold the Lakers to 28 points to win."

Instead the Celtics put up 42 4th quarter points and getting nearly 15 minutes of playing time for Glen "Big Baby" Davis.


- It was the Lakers

It isn't enough that my team is happy... someone else's team needs to be miserable.
The Celtics putting on the biggest ass whippin' elimination game in history would have been awesome if it were against the Hornets.

But it was the Lakers.
It was that history. It was payback for the Sky Hook.
It was a chance for Boston fans to chant "You're Not Jordan" to Kobe.
It was a chance to deny Kobe his Shaq-less championship while you know Shaq-Fu was grinning even wider about the 2006 Heat title.
It was a chance to see Phil Jackson fail to pass Red.

And, like in 2004 when I was in New York during the greatest fold in baseball playoff history, I'm in LA.

I get to read the local papers who trashed the Celtics before the series and whined about Paul Pierce getting a wheel chair grumble about their team.

Sometimes seeing the team you hate lose is as rewarding as seeing the team you love win.

I'm not saying I am proud of that part of my personality that loves to see teams squirm... but I admit it is there.


- The Celtic greats who were in attendance
Russell, Havlicek and Heinsohn were all there. I'm sure there were more as they were on the court celebrating with the others.

It was like an initiation to live on Mount Olympus.
Whenever there is a gathering of Celtic greats, Pierce-Garnett-Allen et al are invited until their beard is whiter than Russell's.


- Celebrating at Sonny McLean's

I went with Kenny Mack, a buddy of mine from Junior High... the last time the Celtics won, to Sonny's to celebrate with our people.

High fives, hugs from total strangers and chanting Beat LA was the order of business.

One guy hugged me, stopped and said "You were in Curse of the Bambino."

It was fun looking around and seeing the people my age and older who had experienced Celtics titles before so happy that we can celebrate another one.

And it was also great seeing the faces of the younger fans who never had this moment and was probably sick of hearing about how great the past was.

And then there were a lot of guys named Murph and Fitzy who were just drunk.

OK, enough basketball for now.
The Celtics are the champs... along with the Red Sox and the Giants, so I got 3 out of 4 of my Championship Grand Slam

Back to baseball!