this pretty much encapsulates whats wrong with slate's sports reporting.

its not actually reporting at all.

major events like the world series are smply an excuse for slate writers to pursue offbeat tangents and vendettas.

reality check - when people people remember this game and discuss in the future, will THEY be cursing A Rod, or celebrating Utley's homers?

slate gets it so pathetically wrong

you heard her, folks: Madonna here wants you to lay off the handsome rich guy.

ok, let's do better than that. What if in your office right this second, there is a guy being paid oh about 5 times, maybe 10 times what you are being paid. He's really skilled now, so you certainly appreciate his contributions. BUT, say yesterday, there was a highly stressed work order from regional or whathave you, and he went AWOL, not really contributing at all, and the efforts he did make, absoulutely worthless to the overall project. Would you have a right to complain? or would you be so wooed by his blue eyes and billfold that you would give him a pass?

i've never actually played the game, maybe thats why i dont hate the players

if people don't like a sport (or a tv network) they should just change the channel, rather whine incessantly about their dislikes.

my gosh, they don't have the Bill of Rights in Baltimore? I mean, with Tupac and The Wire and John Waters, it's still a city where 'if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." How can THAT be?

Some of us actually think it's fun to 'whine incessantly' about our likes and dislikes. We're not too keen on the opposite--felating the richest celebrities, though...

and why say we're "whining" anyway? what a mean word, my feelings are so hurt. Now, I COULD just say, "hey, if you don't like something I say, just 'change the website.'" But that wouldn't be very nice of me, would it, being that I'm a peach of a person and all.

B.A.: with your philosophies on the proper manners one should display while talking about baseball, I suggest it probably would not be a good idea to log onto Redsox.com during the season. I believe it's safe to say that their philosophy on such matters is quite different than yours; and not just 'different' but hella funnier may I add.

"reality check - when people people remember this game and discuss in the future, will THEY be cursing A Rod, or celebrating Utley's homers?"

Actually, since Philly is not a significant* market, they'll remember A-Rod, unfortunately. Even though Utley will probably be a HOFer.

*in baseball, being the cradle of the nation or 5th largest city in the US doesn't qualify as a significant market

I don't know about that. When I remember this game, I'll remember the hell of a pitching performance that Cliff Lee gave. He pitched a gem. Sabathia didn't pitch bad, he just pitched like it was August. Let's hope the bats are working and Burnett is solid tonight.

You're certainly right about Lee, Jilly. Who ever heard of a lefty going the distance, striking out 10 and not walking anyone? and he had to push off with his foot in the rain.

but where do you fall on this A-rod question? What I wonder is does he--and Yank fans, take the same amount of personal responsibility that say Kurt Shilling and then Kevin Garnett did when he came to Boston, and now, Ron Artest does in going to the Lakers? (this season is ONLY a success if we win it all, if not, it--and I, will be a failure). I know it's a bad example, because all of these other people I mentioned are lions who were never accused of cheating with steroids, and they don't make near the money paid A-rod either. Which only makes the question that much more significant: A-rod "leads" you (and hold your laughter for a second, Mariners and Rangers' fans) all the way to beating the Phils, or it was a failed year (where A-rod wasn't worth his money)? Right? and if not, why not?

Jilly, you may be right. When I think of the '01 or '03 WS (which both featured the Yankees against '90s expansion teams), I think of Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, and Josh Beckett (and of course Byung Yung Kim). I don't think of any Yankees "choking"

yeah, poor Yanks. They get such large checks (from a man actually neamed Cashman) yet they still keep getting outplayed.

which reminds me of an unfunny in-joke on the internet based on a typo....

I'm not so sure, Bentoniani. When I recall the WS the D-Backs won, I definitely remember Mariano Rivera choking. But it's in sort of a backwards compliment way, because his utter greatness in the postseason is so memorable that having a time where he blew it really sticks out. For A-Rod, on the other hand, it will be hard to distinguish this game from all the others where he choked.

Slate sports reporting isn't the AP recap. The goal is usually a unique angle. Doesn't always work, but that doesn't mean they should fall in line behind everyone else to praise Utley and Lee's performance. No insight there.

MBS - interestingly enough I don't think the sole measure of a player is championships. I didn't think anything more of Peyton Manning after he won the Superbowl than I did before he did. I thought Ray Bourque leaving Boston to go to a team just for the sake of winning the Cup was lame (and I'm sure I'm gonna hear outrage about that, lol). And despite poor showings in previous post seasons I think A-Rod is an amazing player and an asset to the Yankees. I also think he's emotionally immature and a lot crazy. But in my circle of friends I refer to him as "Crazy Uncle Gizmo." Ya know, he's the guy you don't want to admit being related to, but when push comes to shove, he's family. And he was pretty clutch last night (Game 4).