For years, I’ve maintained that flying insects really suck. Mosquitos, flies, gnats, wasps, bees, hornets, etc. I’ve never understood their purpose. I’ve heard plenty about the ecosystem, the food chain, etc. but that’s all pretty abstract when the fuckers are biting you.
Anyhow, after last night, I take it all back. Flying insects — midges, to be specific (thank you, noted Entomologist Peter Abraham) are now my friends and I will not tolerate any negativity towards them.
Bronx Banter’s Alex Belth posed the question, “Who will ever forget the close-up shots of Joba Chamberlain looking like something out of David Lynch’s ‘Eraserhead,’ his neck, face and entire head covered with a dozens little flying ants, as he unraveled and allowed the game-tying run to score?” Certainly not me — I’m trying to figure out how to transfer said moments from my TiVO hard drive to create some sort of endless loop of Joba-under-siege.
High & Tight’s Mr. Faded Glory argues that Joe Torre should’ve “protested for a suspension of the game when Joba was clearly being bothered by external forces (insects on his eyeballs).” And he makes a very good point. I have it on good authority there have been a few ballgames impacted by other external forces, including those not limited to sunlight, shadows, wind, slippery surfaces, high temperatures, extreme cold, crowd noise, pigeons, the distracting smell of tasty food items being prepared, Daughtry songs played over the tannoy, etc. Not only should Cleveland’s Game Two victory be nullfied — and Fausto Carmona Not Glue’s exceptional performance be removed from the record books — but the vast majority of the MLB games from 2007 should be replayed.
After the game, one of the umpires said that he would not have suspended the game for bugs. But I am surprised that Torre didn’t try. Hooray for midges, Midge Ure, urine, etc.!!!
I was praying for a “Carmona, Not Glue” NYPost headline for a while.
Suspend the game? Please… If it had been a Cleveland pitcher that blew up, instead of Jabba the Hut, Yankee fans would’ve been screaming, “get over it” to Indians fans.
Um, Fausto’s 1st post-season win is already off the books, because Rafael Perez got the win.
But, yeah, it’s pretty funny / interesting / awesome that The Joba & Captain Fistpump were swatting away bugs like mad, while everyone else seemed to take things in stride (and every open orifice the bugs wandered into).
The bugs have obscured how A-Rod blew the opportunity to be the hero last night with his inning-ending K in the 9th after Abreu set the table for him with the 2-out hit and SB. A game winning hit/RBI from Rodriguez and the bugs are the secondary story
Yeah, where’s Miguel Cairo when you need him?
The midge problem there has caused games to be suspended before. The Angels played a game there that I can recall – I think it was earlier this season – where they suspended play for about 1/2 hr due to that exact issue. My guess is since it’s the postseason and there’s so much TV money involved that it wouldn’t have been considered
i dunno, you’d think they’d leap at the opportunity to show more spots for “Frank TV” if there was an excuse to do so.
@Ward York- he’s at home regretting having signed with the Cardinals.
And when you think of how many flies Bronx fans draw, you’d think they could deal.