Zenerarumanējā [ゼネラルマネージャー]
| Game 160: October 2, 2009 | |||
| Indians | 2 | L: Carlos Carrasco (0-4) | 65-95, 3 game losing streak |
 Red Sox | 6 | W: Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-6) H: Billy Wagner (6) H: Ramon Ramirez (12) | 93-67, 2 game winning streak |
| Highlights: The Japanese borrowed the English term “general manager” and use it to describe their Theo Epsteins and Dave Dombrowskis. Usually they abbreviate it as “GM,” using the Roman majuscules as we do. Two MLB general managers were recently fired: Kevin Towers (formerly of the Padres) and J.P. Ricciardi (Toronto as of late). | |||
If Rogers Communications, the corporation that owns the Blue Jays, have smart leadership they would hire Kevin Towers. Similarly, if the Padres wanted to reinvigorate their franchise they would nab Kim Ng.
The San Diego club was dumb enough to axe one of the most talented baseball executives in the majors in Towers even though he followed former owner John Moores’s directives to slash payroll because of his rancorous divorce. Moores had to sell his stake in the team to Jeff Moorad because of the marital split. It seems unlikely that the Moorad Group would risk further controversy by hiring the first female general manager in history.
Theo Epstein’s hiring was somewhat controversial because he was the youngest person hired for such a position at the time. Two world championships later it seems silly to think that his age was ever a factor; hopefully the same will be true for Ng.
Another stanza in the epic of Daisuke Matsuzaka was written and it was more pleasant than previous strophes. The starter’s line (6 innings pitched, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts) was respectable, but this was against a team that has virtually nothing to play for. The Angels, inspired by the memory of Nick Adenhart, will not be such pushovers.
Alex Gonzalez was hit by a pitch by Jeremy Sowers in the third and Kerry Wood finished the shortstop off in the eighth. The 93 MPH fastball struck Gonzalez’s right wrist, the force from the pitch as strong as the punch in the stomach felt by Red Sox fans seeing the impact. Radiographs came back negative, ensuring that Boston’s bottom of the order spark plug and defensive wiz will be able to make the playoffs.
