>>>>This baseball season has been such a monumental disappoint to me. The Brewers and Ryan Braun, obviously, but also a general sense of discontent. I will watch the playoffs, as always. Maybe it will bring back the joy. One thing we know is you never know for sure what will happen next.
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>>>As you know, this has been a pretty frustrating season here in Philly. But the last couple of weeks somewhat redeemed it for me. Before last night, I'd seen four wins in a row, no doubt aided by seeing consecutive starts by Hamels and Lee. I took my 11-year-old niece to the game Sunday before last and watched a Hamels gem; 2.5 hour game instead of 3, among other things.
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>>>I wished I'd picked Monday's game out of the series that just finished instead of last night's. Lee had 14 K's, plus 3 hits and 4 RBI. I love to watch that man play baseball.
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>>>One of the joys of the last month or so is watching a bunch of young players, who may or may not be future of this team. Keep your eye on Cody Asche (pronounced "ASH-ee"), young third baseman with amazing glove work. Seems to have a bat, too.
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>>You may be suffering from Cubs syndrome -- finding hope in a misbegotten season.
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>You misunderstand. Just meant that I've seen some good enough baseball that it doesn't feel totally frustrating.
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>>I will keep an eye out for Ashee. (I will not say a thing about his name, no, not a thing). IMO true baseball fans are united in their love of good fielders. There is nothing like a double play turned by the real pros, so fast you can hardly see it. One of the best I remember was Dwight Evans, an outfielder for the Red Sox in the 1970s. He gunned down runners at third base enough times until they stopped running on him any more.
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>Actually, the best play last night was by the Marlins shortstop, Adeiny Hechavarria.
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>http://wapc.mlb.com/sd/play/?content_id=30737737&topic_id=8877454
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>Both plays here are really good, but the first is incredible. He got lots of applause from Philly fans.
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Incredible. He even sounds like a shortstop.