SUNDAY BILLY-BALL NOTES
IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO BASEBALL
AN APPRECIATION
For those of you who are regular Billy-Ball readers, you know that each Sunday I thank my wonderful wife, Max, for all the love and support that enables me to write this column and do so many of the other things in life I’m able to accomplish. Her loving nature comes in part from her mom, Marjorie Effenson, who passed away late Thursday night.
When you write a column like Billy-Ball, it is much more personal than anything I could write if I were lucky enough to be writing for The Athletic or again be contributing to the Boston Globe. In writing my columns, I try as hard as I can to write as if I know you and you are in my circle of companions. However, one of the things that I always try to do is bring things back to baseball. So here goes.
IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO BASEBALL
Let’s go back to October 5, 2007, and the scene is Cleveland’s Jacob Field (that was its name at the time). The team, then called “the Indians,” was facing the Yankees in the ALDS. In Game One, Cleveland, behind their ace C.C. Sabathia (who we will come back to in this Billy-Ball), clobbered the Yankees, 12-3. Game 2 was much closer. Melky Cabrera hit a solo homer in the 3rd to give the Yankees the lead off Roberto Hernandez (he was known as Fausto Carmona at the time). Andy Pettite was on the mound for New York, and he was masterful, but after 6.1 scoreless innings and having just allowed a double and a walk, Joe Torre had seen enough. He brought in Joba Chamberlain.
Joba was a 21-year-old rookie who had pitched in 19 regular-season games to a 0.38 ERA. In 24.0 innings, he struck out 34, walked six, and threw one wild pitch. He was a force, and he quickly retired the side.
But then came the 8th inning. Cleveland is not an easy place to live or to play baseball. We constantly hear about how they are barraged with lake-effect snow, but sometimes the opposite can occur on an unseasonably warm night (81 degrees at game time), as it was that night. “I’m just like, ‘This ain’t normal. I’ve never seen this,” Chamberlain said. What Joba was referring to was the barrage of bugs that entered the ballpark. They were drawn by the lights, mostly by the sweat pouring off Chamberlain. There were swarms of them everywhere. They even had the audacity to annoy Derek Jeter, who was swatting them away. But no one had it worse than Joba. The mosquito-like insects blocked his nose, mouth, and ears. Chamberlain walked Grady Sizemore, then threw a wild pitch. The Yanks’ trainer dosed Joba with Off! bug spray, to no avail. In fact, Torre would later say it “was like Chateaubriand for the bugs.”
Nothing was working, but the game must go on, and after a sac bunt moved Sizemore to third and after getting Travis Hafner to line out, Chamberlain threw a run-scoring wild pitch. After an HBP and a walk, Chamberlain got out of the inning. The score was tied and eventually won by Cleveland, 2-1, in 11 innings.
Cleveland took the best-of-five series in four games and then lost to the eventual World Series champion Red Sox in the ALCS. But this game, and this series, will always be remembered for the attack of the Lake Erie midge.
Midge: Any one of many small, delicate, long-legged flies of the Chironomus and allied genera which do not bite.
So what does this have to do with my wonderful late mother-in-law, whom I loved and liked? While her proper name was Marjorie, all of the family, all of her friends, all who met her, knew her by her nickname, “Midge.”
Midge was the wife of Jack Effenson, who passed away in 2020, and was my source for old Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves stories. She was a wonderful mom to two great daughters, Max and her sister, Andrea Pyenson. She was a terrific grandmother to Andrea’s two children and our two children. And, while she didn’t get to know her great-grandchildren as she was afflicted with Alzheimer’s for the last eight years, I know she would have excelled with them as well. She was also an outstanding mother-in-law. Just ask Eric or me, both of us were so lucky she was part of our lives. While other folks would complain or joke about their mom-in-laws, I wasn’t a participant. Often, when we tried to get her opinion on a topic (usually my behavior) that Max and I disagreed on, she would take my side. Why? Because only Midge knew Max as I did, and her support would always make us laugh along with her. She was a great person whom I will miss, and who I always loved to make laugh. I always wanted to leave her laughing. It was wonderful. Thanks, Midge, for Max and for enriching my life.
THE UNDERAPPRECIATED DAVE ROBERTS
As Dave Roberts enters his eleventh season as manager of the Dodgers, we need to appreciate the amazing job he has done.
Only five managers in MLB history have five 100-win seasons. Doc is one of them. He may be on his way to his sixth this season.
He led the Dodgers to a franchise‑record 106‑win season in 2019.
He has been in the postseason for 10 straight seasons.
He has won five National League pennants
His 69 postseason wins are the third most all-time.
He has won three World Championships.
His .621 winning percentage is the best ever among managers with 850+ games at the helm.
Only expectations have prevented him from winning more than the one Manager of the Year he captured in 2016.
THE ROBERTS QUIZ
Dave Roberts has 69 postseason wins. Who are the only managers who have had more?
Who is the only Dodgers manager with more NL pennants than Dave?
Who is the only Dodgers manager with more World Championships than Roberts?
How many World Championships have the Dodgers won after winning 100+ regular-season games?
BASEBALL IS THE BEST
Sarah Langs and Torey Lovullo
STARTING OPENING DAY FOR THE METS
Newly acquired Freddy Peralta is lined up to pitch the Mets’ season opener on March 26 at Citi Field, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Paul Skenes is expected to be Peralta’s mound opponent for the Pirates in the season opener.
METS OPENING DAY QUICK QUIZ
Who started the most Opening Day games for the Mets?
Who holds the record for most Opening Day wins by a starter for the Mets?
