Erikkk - Blessing or Curse (5)
.
Bedard had me from "four questions".
For those who just joined us, the press conference of course, in which Erikkk opened with "Okay, four questions today." "Why only four?" "You're down to three."
Don't know if LL is kidding here, but I'm not. My son and I have a joke that never gets old. He's a 6'2", 250-lb. defensive lineman who never, not once in his life, has ever shouted at anybody. Not once! Has he ever snapped. And he is a scary guy.
He gets treated unfairly enough, he'll look up to the right, he'll stare blankly, and the muscles in his jaw will striate furiously.
We watch Bedard interviews carefully:
So, Erik, congratulations I guess. 8-1 over the Yankees today. It was tight there for a while, though, wasn't it? What happened on that solo homer in the seventh? Did you get the pitch up, or why did you throw him a fastball there when the curve is your best pitch?
Blank stare up to the right...
I love the fact that Bedard has no possible way to explain baseball to the people asking the questions, except to Baker, who doesn't ask those questions. I love the fact that he is one of the few baseball players who truly fathoms the gap in communication.
And I love watching him restrain his urge to choke ever so tightly, like I love watching my son restrain his... ever see the scene where Inspector Dreyfus chokes his shrink to death from behind?
.
You expect him to be good as soon as he comes back, but the prospect is still exciting, because it feels new. Ichiro is a video game. Erik Bedard is a toy in a box.
Keepin' it fresh, homey... that's actually a whale of an insight. I mean, think if Felix only pitched two months a year, how fun his starts would be...
.
Erik Bedard is factoring into some peoples' thoughts of a playoff team next season. Is that right? Does it matter? The thought of Erik Bedard makes people happier with a team that's made a lot of people unhappy.
And, though it's true that it wouldn't matter ... it also does (incidentally) matter. How'd you like the Angels to stick Bedard in their hip pocket?
.
The only thing Bedard really lacks is actual on-field contribution.
Heh! As if he's got 9 of 10 things checked off...
Echo'ing the fact that the only thing that Mariner games lack, is an actual pennant fight. And as baseball junkies, we continue to prove that the actual on-field success isn't really the point.
.
In a way, he's perfect. And it's just a matter of time before he comes back and ruins everything.
The wittiest line of all, the big finish, and the one line that's five degrees off, 'cause if he does come back, he's the one pitcher who is guaranteed not to ruin anything.
Hold it. Does Sully mean, "Ruins the frustration"? Oh... okay, perfect :- )
.
Q. Could Erikkkk come back and make 25-30 starts a year for several years?
A. For me, this question is about the same one as the question, "Of the ten pitchers most like Erik Bedard right now, how many came back strong?" Answer this question, and you answer the other one.
You can't answer either question. You're guessing, I am, and Zduriencik is. Amigos who go, "He'll never pitch again," or "He'll be fine," are commenting on themselves, not on Bedard.
..............
The wide variety of injuries is damning. But on the other hand, Bedard is one of those rare types who does not have to be healthy to be great.
Bill James wrote somebody like this up once, "as long as he can limp out to the mound, he'll dominate, but who knows when that will be." Wish I could remember who it was.
.
Q. In roto, would you draft him?
A. In roto, I like injury bets better than ----> skill-upside bets. Skill-upside bets (like some non-Safeco team taking Lopez) feel safer, but aren't.
At $1.5M, you've got a great percentage play for your cash. Can't ask for better.
.
Only thing we lack is a 3-4 hitter,
Dr D