Results tagged ‘ Evan Longoria ’
Evan almighty
The most pivotal player in the AL East didn’t just come back from hip surgery, and he’s not looking for his first homer. He didn’t win the MVP last year, and he’s not a gazillion-dollar free agent.
He’s 23, barely more than a year removed from his debut and he’s just crushing the ball, driving in runs at a record-smashing pace. He’s Evan Longoria of the Rays, and he did it again Saturday with five RBIs at Fenway.
There haven’t been too many hitters in memory, recent or otherwise, who have stepped into the Majors and hit like they’ve been doing it for a decade, like this kid. He is so far ahead of the curve, and he’s already making adjustments every time the scouting reports find a hole. Too good, too early.
He’s already got 20 RBIs in May (check your calendar) and shows no signs of slowing down. If Zack Greinke’s the way-too-early vote for AL Cy Young, this guy’s running away with MVP.
Sure, it really is way too early. But wow fits just right already.
Yakyu Haiku
That’s the American tradition of baseball in Japanese, and here’s an Americanized version of a Japanese tradition:
Zack, one little one
Scoreboard had none in April –
What a royal run
Hip? Hip? The Rays
A bad hip is threatening Alex Rodriguez’s spring, and putting another cloud over his season, or at least the start of it. Mike Lowell’s hip is recovering from surgery — quite nicely, thanks.
No disrespect to the hot corner men of the AL East’s big beasts, or their injury per se, but hips? Hips were the story of the day Thursday?
That’s generally your older type of injury, right? (Believe it, The Grind has a much different meaning than it used to have, people.) Bo wasn’t that old, true. But hip injuries you think more about checking into the old folks’ home than barreling into home plate.
That’s why you gotta like the Rays. What with breakdancing and skateboarding or whatever it is those uber-talented kiddies at the Trop do to burn off that extra twentysomething energy, hips probably aren’t too much of a problem. And we know age is not a factor for B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria, or for James Shields and Matt Garza. Prime time, and early prime.
They stay healthy, and you like their chances even just that slight bit over the older competition. And you know the talent is there. And the guru in charge, Joe Maddon. They’ve got the goods, and they’re good to go.
We’re all hip to them now. (Yes, yes, went right back there. No shame.)
Yakyu Haiku
That’s the American tradition of baseball in Japanese, and here’s an Americanized version of a Japanese tradition:
Speed, savvy and smile,
a bummer in early spring –
Dave Roberts, released
Bottom line
One of the highlights of the 2006 World Baseball Classic was Korea’s caps, with the “K” on it that was right off your Little League cap from the ’70s — iron-on block letter, white on light blue. Like somebody forgot the caps till they were on the way to the tourney. But no more. Now they’re all fancy. Progress sometimes just isn’t pretty.
mlblogsthegrind1
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