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Short hops

E-mail|Link|Comments () Posted by Eric Wilbur, Boston.com Staff October 22, 2009 08:58 AM

Think of London, a small city...

I had to laugh about Tim McCarver's assessment Saturday night that all those who called Derek Jeter the worst fielding shortstop in baseball over the years were hiding under a rock after his sparkling defensive season. This statement was, of course, made after Mark Teixeira saved a Jeter throw high and wide to the first baseman's left. I kept waiting for Joe Buck to point out what the Gold Glove first baseman has meant to the Yankee infield overall, and it never came. I guess it's just easier to fleece the Jeter legend than it is to actually, you know, find a tangible reason for his lowest error output in 11 years. Mystique always was easier to use than fielding range anyway.
Great to see that this story has a happy ending for a local craft-brewer. Don't think Monster Energy Drinks are going to be a big seller in Vermont any time soon.
How badly does Fox want a Yankees-Phillies World Series? So badly they started previewing it earlier this week. During Game 3.

"It's like aura and mystique have made a comeback," Ken Rosenthal said. "Teams are falling apart at the sight of the Yankees."

Good Lord, it's going to be a long two weeks. On the bright side, TBS can go back to pretending anyone even knows who Bill Engvall is.

For Pats fans heading to London, the Sports Café is hosting a "Patriots in London Eve Party" on Saturday night. I'd normally warn here not to embarrass all Americans while overseas, but the Bucs should plenty take care of that on Sunday anyway.
Little online cricket to get yourself in the mood?
Is it just me or were some a little quick to jump to Mariano Rivera's defense during this week's spit-gate? Granted, anyone who leapt to the conclusion that the Yankee closer's career is now in question over one little loogey is a fool, but didn't the video provide merit for the discussion over whether or not he did indeed throw a spitball? It's not like he's the first guy since Gaylord Perry to do so, let's make that clear. But the indignation that he would never do so such a thing came off a bit naïve.
The Phillies are the first team to appear in back-to-back World Series since the 2000-01 Yankees. The last NL team to do it was the 1995-96 Atlanta Braves.
I tweeted this during Game 3 of the ALDS: "And the first 'ghosts opened the OF door' wil go to..." Can't believe I had to wait 10 whole days for Shaughnessy to mention it.
No, it hasn't been a great start thus far for the Bruins, but panic isn't an avenue that should be taken either. Would you rather Marc Savard and Milan Lucic both be out now with injuries, or during the playoff stretch? The only reason Tim Thomas' "struggles" (3.00 GAA, .902 save percentage) have been magnified is because he's coming off a Vezina season and has a questionable new contract. As for those blaming management for the "demise" of the team for shipping Phil Kessel to Toronto, it's not like he's doing anything either for the Leafs right now, still on injured reserve. They're 4-4 in what really amounts to the NHL preseason this year. The regular season won't really start until after the Olympics. So let's just chill, all right?
As far as we know, Paul Pierce hasn't responded to the odd, one-sided Twitter war launched by former teammate Stephon Marbury.
Antonio Pierce said playing the Raiders a few weeks ago was like "playing a scrimmage." Of course, the Giants lost their first game of the season to the Saints this past weekend, prompting former Patriots lineman – and current Oakland inmate – Richard Seymour to spout off: "They got what they deserved this week," he said. "I'm not sure how many points the Saints scored on them, but if I'm not mistaken, it was about half a 100 points. He's got enough to chew on with that."
According to Jon Heyman, free agent outfielder Matt Holliday loves the idea of going to the Yankees for their…ready…no, really…ready? Their mystique. "He just loves the idea of going to the Yankees. He loves the whole aura," a friend of Holliday told Heyman.

Little known fact, this is what they now define as aura:

1. Yankees, $201,449,289
2. Mets, $135,773,988
I'm just guessing the Patriots aren’t bringing the Minutemen to London. Right?