Friday (could be worse) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on April 18th, 2008 – 8:57 AMBy Michael Rand
By now, any reasonable Minnesota sports fan should know that getting one’s hopes up is just a way to ensure that the inevitable tumble is even more painful. You can’t say, “Why bother getting excited?” because hope — as misguided as it might be — is what keeps a fan going. So instead of dissecting the feasibility of getting Jared Allen, or the Wild’s latest playoff misstep, or Boof Bonser’s lousy outing, we’ll instead try to find an even lousier situation to make you feel better about yourself today. So: be thankful that you are not a pitcher for the Kawamoto technical high school in Japan. From Reuters (and courtesy of bpar):
A Japanese high school pleaded for a regional game to be abandoned after surrendering 66 runs in less than two innings, local media reported on Thursday. The coach of Kawamoto technical high school threw in the towel to spare his pitcher’s arm with his team losing 66-0 with just one batter out in the bottom of the second. The hapless hurler had already sent down over 250 pitches, allowing 26 runs in the first inning and 40 in the second before Kawamoto asked for mercy. “At that pace the pitcher would have thrown around 500 pitches in four innings,” Kawamoto’s coach was quoted as saying. “There was a danger he could get injured.” Opponents Shunshukan were officially credited with a 9-0 victory, giving the scoreline a tinge of respectability for the luckless Kawamoto school.
And also be thankful that nobody is so mad at you about the move of an NBA team that they would do terrible thinks to your Wikipedia page. (Offensive, though the worst word has been obscured).
Fasola-link! All about elevators.
12 Responses to "Friday (could be worse) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
RE: the hoc-key match.
For those puckheads looking for a little lift, 30 Rock cast Lord Stanley’s Cup cast in a supporting role in last night’s (insanely funny, as per usual) episode.
You can even watch it on your computer device!
I’d like to grant a hearty ‘congratulations’ to the Wild announcers by proving beyond a shadow of a doubt they are the worst in the state. No contest. They’re on par with the White Sox guys for their idiocy and barefaced homerism.
So I am the Head Coach of the Kawamoto technical high school in Japan. My pitcher has thrown over 250 pitches. I could have taken him out 200 pitches ago, or I could wait until his arm literally falls off and we are down by 66 runs. If you are already down by 25 runs don’t you decide that the pitcher might be having a bad day?
I don’t know if anyone is paying attention but the Wolves are going to be over .500 next year. If McHale says it has to be true.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/17875294.html
My favorite part of the article is when one of the local reporters actually asked McHale if he was going to get a ring if Boston wins it all this year. That guy should get a raise. Or maybe he can be the new GM.
If my meager maths skills are correct, I believe that comes out to a tidy 540.00 ERA. (Assuming all those runs were earned)
(Sigh) My meager maths skills were NOT correct. (1 1/3 innings is 1.33, not 1.1, genius.) Let’s revise that ERA to a much more respectable 445.5.
Let’s revise that ERA to a much more respectable 445.5.
David West wants to know this kid’s secret.
Japan has a different approach to pitchers. 250 pitches wasn’t an issue. But if he kept it up he’d be closer to 500 pitches over 4 innings and then there’s that chance he might get injured. Conclusion: American pitchers are sissies.
I bet you Tracy Jordan and that woman from the Rural Juror could pitch better than that kid!
Hope — as misguided as it might be — is what keeps a fan going.
I can also vouch for “lack of a sense of proportion.”
Jon
With all my hockey knowledge, I think I’ve watched about 10 games from beginning to end, I have determined that Shots on Goal is one of the most pointless stats of all time. I was just curious if this is a stat that is usually used? And please tell me why Gaborik has his hands around his throat, why does he suck so much in the playoffs this year?
At the risk of sounding like Joe Morgan: you can’t score without putting a shot on goal. So I wouldn’t call it pointless.
Gaborik sucks because this kind of thing happens to him fairly often. He’ll score 11 goals in six games, then 0 in the next six. This is his sixth five-games-without-a-goal streak this season.
