Grip on Sports: What’s that adage about dogs, fight and size? It’s still true in baseball
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Postseason baseball is upon us. And though it may not include the nearest nine, again, it does include some of baseball’s most successful franchises. And one small stick of dynamite. Read on.
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• The Yankees. The Red Sox. The Cubs. The Dodgers. Between them they have appeared in 81 World Series. They have won 48. That’s more than 40 percent of all that have been played.
Pretty significant pedigree.
If you know anything about me, you know which team I am rooting for this season. Not the Yankees. Not the Red Sox. Certainly not the Cubs. The Dodgers. The team of my youth.
But there is one player I’m rooting for, and always do. He’s listed at 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds. You could say the Astros’ Jose Altuve is stocky, but that would be selling him short.
When I was young, I was tiny. I didn’t pass 5-2 until 10th grade. I was sensitive about it. So my dad tried to keep my spirits up. He would constantly tell me “dynamite comes in small packages.”
Not knowing anything about explosives, and not having the Interweb to access back then, I couldn’t Google his statement to see if it was true.
It sounded good, though, so I repeated it. Usually just before I exploded into a fit of anger. But enough about happy childhood memories. My dad’s adage is true in Altuve’s case.
Ask any Mariner pitcher.
Altuve has driven in 44 runs against the M’s over the years, the most he has against any team.
Though he seems as if he’s trying to catch that total in the American League division series against the Red Sox.
Yesterday, Altuve hit three home runs against Boston, matching the regular season total he has against the franchise in 34 career games. He’s 5-6 for goodness sakes.
But that’s the way baseball is. A smaller athlete can still excel with a bat in his hands. Or on the mound. You don’t have to be Aaron Judge (6-7, 282 and pictured with Altuve above) or Giancarlo Stanton (6-6, 245) to be a star.
Altuve proves it. Almost every day.
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WSU: You want to know one reason Alex Grinch believes in speed on defense? He had to try to stop a Chip Kelly offense everyday at practice for two years. Theo Lawson has a great story on Grinch, receivers coach Derek Sage and their longtime bond, first built at New Hampshire. … That’s the happy news from Pullman. The sad news came later in the day, when two players were booted from the team after allegedly shoplifting. Theo has that story as well. … Theo also videoed some interviews after practice. They can be found on our WSU football page. … Hercules Mata’afa has to wrestle with opposing linemen every game. Which makes this skill appropriate. … Washington State’s odds of making the college football playoffs still aren’t very good. … Oregon’s defense has played better this season. But the real test is Saturday evening against Luke Falk and the Cougars…. The Ducks’ kicker wants a shot at a game-winner. … Former Cougar quarterback Alex Brink is doing a little bit of everything right now. … Former WSU player Ny Redding is eligible at Wyoming and should start at the point guard spot. … Yes, Mike Leach is quirky.
Elsewhere in the Pac-12, the Pac-12 Networks has another deal in place. What happens next? … What happens in this week’s games? … Washington will have the best quarterback on the field against California, and maybe the second-best as well. … Stanford would love to run over Utah and returning-to-the-spotlight quarterback Troy Williams. … USC is favored by almost five touchdowns against Oregon State but covering might depend on the play of Sam Darnold. … UCLA has a bye this week. … Arizona is still dealing with the basketball scandal.
Gonzaga: Adam Morrison told our Jim Meehan his plans for the upcoming season, his first on the radio team. … Talk about pressure. BYU is all about going to the NCAA tournament this season. Anything else is a failure. … One Gonzaga opponent considers the Zag visit important.
EWU: There was a changing of the guard on the basketball court for the Eagles, with Shantay Legans taking over from Jim Hayford, who still has two books of mine. Jim Allen was in Cheney yesterday for Legans’ first day as a head coach and has this story. Dan Pelle was also there with his camera and put together a photo report. … Jim also keeps up with football, holding a live chat yesterday and writing a piece on receiver Nic Sblendorio. … Around the Big Sky, the most interesting matchup is between Montana and Idaho State. The Bengals are not only playing well, but their staff also has a lot of Griz connections. … Montana State is playing a whole bunch of youngsters this season. … Northern Colorado’s defense is trying to stay disciplined. … A walk-on is helping Northern Arizona’s defense reach its goals.
Idaho: It can’t be easy to be a 22-year-old college football player with a family that includes four children. But, as Peter Harriman tells us, Vandal linebacker Tony Lashey deals with it every day.
Whitworth: Long-time bonds must be the theme of the day, as Whitney Ogden has a story on Pirate receiver Nick Kiourkas, who has one with offensive coordinator Alan Stanfield.
Chiefs: WHL road trips can be homecomings for many players.
Preps: There is always something going on at the high schools and we can offer roundups in girls’ soccer, volleyball and slowpitch softball today as well as a story on Thursday’s GSL football game, won 7-0 by Ferris.
Seahawks: The Hawks are always good. But the other teams in the West aren’t. So Seattle’s rival has changed over time. The 49ers, the Cardinals and now, possibly, the Rams. … Some of the injury news was actually good this week. … Will Eddie Lacy take over the starting running back spot? … When it comes to what Cam Newton had to say, Russell Wilson takes the high road.
Mariners: All signs point to a calmer offseason, which has me expecting a huge trade.
Sounders: The most important World Cup qualifying match in a while is on tap tonight for the U.S. National Team.
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• The series between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks, which begins today, features two managers that have a bit in common. Including being recruited to college by the same guy who recruited me. Until later …