I predicted Bengie Molina's triple

Last night was a super rotten night for the Red Sox and their fans... but I at least had a prediction come true and had at least something fun happen in an ugly loss.

My wife and kids are up north for a few days so living like a bachelor, I decided to swing by Sonny McLean's in Santa Monica and watch the Red Sox game with my people.

The Sox were tied when I showed up and in the middle of a rain delay. Then Beltre homered for the Sox and briefly there was a lead.

And then I got some company.

My good friend, writer for the Santa Monica Free Press and former 5th grade classmate Kenny Mack arrived.

And the second he showed up, the Red Sox blew the lead.

He blamed himself.

I just relay the facts.

The game was ugly for so many reasons... not the least of which was the number of players wearing #50 and higher.

With all the injuries on the team it looked like a split squad spring training game.

There were too many Eric Pattersons, Kevin Cashes, Ryan Shealys, Felix Doubronts, Fernando Cabreras and Dustin Richardsons for my taste.

I kept thinking "Where's Beckett? Pedroia? Buchholz? Ellsbury? Varitek? Martinez?" and expecting the answer to be "Oh they are on the squad playing in Jupiter."

The Sox put a few feeble rallies together but couldn't cut the lead down.

And up stepped Bengie Molina.

His Grand Slam turned a tie game into a 4 run hole and by the look of how his uniform fit, he had also experienced a few Denny's Grand Slams since coming over from San Francisco.

The NESN broadcast showed he had doubled, singled and hit the grand slam.

I said "Watch. He's hitting a triple here."

Kenny witnessed it. As did the people at the bar.

Now last year I wrote about Bengie Molina's ability to triples. He had 5 career triples (in 4,997 plate appearances) going into that at bat.

"He's going to do it" I yelled.

And then it happened... a drive to center field into the triangle... a place where anyone could run out a triple.

And it bounced off of Patterson's glove in centerfield and it was off to the races with Molina.

I think James Caan in Misery would have been lighter on his feet than Molina.

And there he was on third.

And I called it.

Now granted I was calling it somewhat tongue in cheek. But hey! I'll take the credit.

The only question was was the official scorer going to call it an error or a triple. Kenny was convinced it should be called an error.

I kept thinking "Come on scorekeeper! Give him the triple!"

And he did.

I thought of the scene in 1776 when the anonymous Judge Wilson realizes his yes or no vote would determine whether or not America would have its independence. He votes yes because he couldn't take the responsibility of saying no.

That was the scorekeeper. He didn't want the responsibility of denying Bengie Molina the triple and the cycle.

(Trust me that analogy makes perfect sense.)

Oh well... this season is slowly inching towards "Lost cause ville"

Go to 5:00 of this clip and keep in mind that one "no" vote from a state would kill the Independence movement. It's a great (albeit not letterboxed) scene. Then you will see how brilliant my analogy is.

(Trust me.)

No Hitters trump the cycle

It isn’t often then you get a concrete confirmation of an opinion you might have… but I got one this weekend.

I had written that even though hitting for the cycle is about as rare as a pitcher throwing a no hitter… the no hitters are infinitely more memorable.

This weekend Jody Gerut hit for the cycle… and his achievement was noted but hardly treated as front page news.

Dallas Braden throws a no hitter and it is the headline of MLB.com (which with the Red Sox and Yankees playing, an Oakland pitcher being the top news is tremendous.)

Granted it was a perfect game, but that is beside the point.

The no hitter is just more memorable.
I’ll always associate Dallas Braden with his perfect game.
I can already feel myself forgetting Jody Gerut hitting for the cycle.

It may not be fair… but reality sometimes isn’t fair.

Jody Gerut... the latest player to hit for the cycle that I will forget about

Jody Gerut had the game of his life last night in Phoenix as the Brewers outfielder hit for the cycle, going 4-6 with 4 RBI in Milwaukee's 13-3 win against the Snakes.

Good for him.

And I guarantee I will forget that he did that in a week or so.

How do I know this?

Because last August I wrote a post about how I never seem to remember who hits for the cycle unlike no hitters which I tend to remember.

I made a joke in the post about Felix Pie hitting for the cycle.
I wrote "I do know this: In 3 years I will be saying "Felix Pie hit for the cycle? Really? Why don't I remember that?"

Well guess what? I re-read my Hitting for the Cycle post after hearing Jody Gerut did it last night. And when I saw Felix Pie's picture I thought "Felix Pie hit for the cycle? Really? Why don't I remember that?"

That was only 9 months later.

Congrats Jody.
Just remind me that that you hit for the cycle next time I see you.

Does someone hit for the cycle everyday?

Doesn't it seem like every day someone has hit for the cycle this year?

Felix Pie, the one time Cubs phenom who I just assumed would be just another Sil Campusano like overhyped outfielders, is the latest to do the trick.

He's the seventh who did it this year. He's the third to do it this month (along with Troy Tulowitzki and Melky Cabrera.)

Why doesn't it seem like a bigger deal?

If there were three pitchers who threw a no hitter in a month, I'd remember it.

And hitting for the cycle is kind of the hitter's answer to the no hitter.

Since 1882, when Chester Alan Arthur was President, there have been 287 major league games where a someone hit for the cycle.

That's almost as rare as a 9 inning no hitter (there have been 263 of those.)

There have been whole seasons where nobody hits for the cycle.

And yet for me at least the memory of those who accomplish the feat fade from memory.

I never forget no hitters. You can mention just about any no hitter in my lifetime and I have some vague memory of it. And I always associate pitchers with their no hitters.

Clay Buchholz? He still is defined by it.

Mark Buehrle? He's got two of those babies now and I still can't remember if it is B-U-E or B-E-U.

Even some of the obscure ones like Bud Smith, and Eric Milton throwing to the Angel's B lineup, or Joe Cowley or Juan Nieves still bring back specific memories.

Al Leiter's no hitter is fresh in my mind, but mainly because MLB Network always shows the clip of it as if it is the greatest baseball moment since Bobby Thomson's home run!

Heck, I even remember the no hitters that don't count! Like Harvey Haddix's extra inning masterpiece... or Pedro Martinez letting up a hit in the 10th... or Andy Hawkins losing a game even though he let up no hits!

And yet I look at a list of players hitting for the cycle... and I barely remember them.

Mark Kotsay did it? Really? Last year before joining the Red Sox?

Why does that not jolt a memory?

Fred Lewis did it? I was living in the Bay Area when he did that. 

Eric Valent? Brad Wilkerson did it twice?

Did you remember A-Rod did? I didn't!

Shouldn't that be like a Hall of Fame pitcher cementing his legacy?

Dave Winfield did it... as an Angel!

I forgot Dave Winfield even PLAYED for the Angels.

Freddie Lynn, Dwight Evans, Rich Gedman, Mike Greenwell and Scott Cooper all hit for the cycle as members of the Red Sox.

As of 2 minutes ago, those facts were not known to me... and I am an obsessive Red Sox fan.

Hall of Famers like Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Goose Goslin, Joe DiMaggio, Rod Carew and Willie Stargell all did.

Willie Mays didn't.

Future Red Sox bench warmer Jack Brohamer did.

That's right, there is something on Jack Brohamer's resume that isn't on Willie Mays'.

Or Hank Aaron's.

And nothing will change.

We'll remember the no hitters more and guys who hit for the cycle will be forgotten. It's not fair... but neither was the Don Denkinger call. 

I do know this: In 3 years I will be saying "Felix Pie hit for the cycle? Really? Why don't I remember that?"

So there will be a lot of hitting for the cycle this year, I take it

Hey, that's fine by me!

Just make sure each time the cycle can be completed like Jason Kubel did tonight.

With a single a double and a triple already under his belt, he hit a go ahead grand slam in the 8th to put the Twins up for good.

That scenario is so awesome, I'm not sure I'd have the guts to ask a genie for it!