SIGN SAYS GO! Roberto Kelly gives Giants baserunner Angel Pagan the signal to keep trucking to second on a ball that bounced off the third-base bag, something that FOX analyst Tim McCarver (inset) seemed to think was extraordinary, even though he was just doing his job. (MCT/Landov)
SIGN SAYS GO! Roberto Kelly gives Giants baserunner Angel Pagan the signal to keep trucking to second on a ball that bounced off the third-base bag, something that FOX analyst Tim McCarver seemed to think was extraordinary, even though he was just doing his job. (
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These are fascinating, extraordinary times for TV viewers.
When we stop to consider that if FOX, every World Series, covered the games as well as it covers the people at the games as they watch the games, it would have the finest coverage of any sport that TV can provide.
Anyway, Wednesday, after two innings of Game 1, FOX called on pregame show contributor Eric Karros to analyze Tigers starter Justin Verlander’s pitching. At the time, Verlander had pitched to seven batters, retiring six and allowing a home run to Pablo Sandoval.
Yes, it was time. Hey, FOX brought Karros along, thus it had to use him!
After that Sandoval homer, Tim McCarver, who has developed a habit of telling us that we just saw things we didn’t just see, told us, “That’s a situation when Verlander did exactly what he wanted to do — up and in,” adding that credit is due Sandoval for hitting a good pitch.
OK, good point. But one, small problem: The replay showed the pitch was, in fact, “up,” but it was moving back toward the center of the plate. By the time Sandoval swung, it was no longer “in,” it was closer to dead-middle.
But the contradictory video evidence was not mentioned. Sandoval homered on a pitch that was “up and in,” and that was that.
With two out in the bottom of the third, Angel Pagan hit a bouncer to third that kicked off the bag and into left-center. Running hard, Pagan made second.
It was then that McCarver went into an excited spiel about how first-base coach Roberto Kelly was right on top of the play, pointing Pagan to second. McCarver was effusive in his praise for Kelly.
OK, fine. But who, among the majors’ other 29 first-base coaches wouldn’t have done what Kelly did? Some or all of them would have stood idly by, not urging the runner to second? What struck McCarver as remarkable would have been remarkable had Kelly not motioned Pagan toward second. Yes? No?
But what do I know? Every late October, I just tune to FOX to watch people watching the World Series. Wasn’t too bad in Game 1, but that’s likely because it was a blowout. FOX’s Series track record clearly shows that the closer the game, especially late in close games, the more we’re taken from the field to see crowd shots.
But that only makes sense, right?
Celebratory kids spike teams’ chance of winning
This week, as you watch TV carefully include shots of players spiking the ball in self-congratulatory end zone celebrations — sometimes even in slo-mo, to emphasize the act — think about two kids, one in Vermont, the other in Tennessee, who have become Internet video “stars,” victims of our sports, ahem, culture.
Both videos are of the last play in games that would have and should have ended 16-14. But didn’t.
One was from a high school game, likely local cable TV access. There was a long field goal try, which would have secured a 17-16 win. But the kick was very short, then fielded by a kid on defense who raised his hands in triumph, then spiked the ball — just like he sees on TV.
But the play wasn’t dead. The game wasn’t over. A member of the kicking team picked up the ball and scored, to win the game!
The other was from a recent fifth-graders’ league game, home video of a last-play pass that was intercepted. As the kid who intercepted celebrated himself — and his team’s win — he spiked the ball. A kid on the other team picked it up and ran for the winning TD.
Both winning teams lost, 20-16.
* For the last 18 years, Shannon Forde has been Mets’ media man Jay Horwitz’s right-hand woman. “She’s like a daughter to me,” said Horwitz.
Shannon, 41 and the mother of two, has been diagnosed with breast cancer that has spread.
Shannon’s high school pals, along with Ron Darling, Willie Randolph, Dwight Gooden, Ed Kranepool, John Franco, Sean Landeta, Matt Harvey, Daniel Murphy, Al Leiter and many others of note will gather for a Forde Family fundraiser Thursday at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, N.J. For tickets and details, visit HopeShinesForShannon.com.
* No one is more naturally gifted — blessed — than Mike Francesa.
Only he, in an authoritative preview of a single game, can go oh-for-three! His Game 7 NLCS call for Monday’s Cardinals-Giants: Cards, in a close one; Giants starter Matt Cain is pooped.
Final score: Giants 9, Cards 0. Cain, who had an RBI hit and allowed just four hits, was pulled with two out in the sixth and a 7-0 lead.
All-Star insanity
When did it all become so silly? The NBA has announced it will reveal its All-Star ballot on Nov. 13, the second week of the season.
* You think ESPN-Radio NY’s Stephen A. Smith knows so much about quarterbacking and so much about Jets’ reserve QB Greg McElroy, a former Alabama QB, that he could identify McElroy on the air as a bad joke, mock him as incompetent? Neither do I. But this week, that didn’t stop Smith.
* For those scoring at home, tomorrow is Ralph Kiner’s 90th birthday. Or, as Kiner years ago on Ch. 9 might’ve said about that, “Happy Mothers’ Day.”
* The Islanders’ move to Brooklyn could mean that they again will be heard on a radio station beyond Patchogue.
* World Series Lookalikes: A bunch of readers have submitted Giant Hunter Pence and actor Woody Harrelson.
* It took 3:30 to play Game 1 of the World Series, an 8 1/2-inning game. Game 7 of the Yankees-Pirates in the 1960 Series, won 10-9 by the Bucs on Bill Mazeroski’s ninth-inning homer — a 19-run, 24-hit, five-walk, nine-pitcher game — was played in 2:30.
Needs a hug: Division III Misericordia (Pa.), in its first year playing football, is 0-7, including two 70-0 beatings and a 67-0 number. Misericordia, in Latin, means pity, compassion, mercy.