Roger Federer etched his name alongside some of the tennis greats yesterday. While winning the French Open, Federer joined Andre Agassi, Rod Laver, Fred Perry, Don Budge, and Roy Emerson as the only men to win a career Grand Slam. Federer’s title, his 14th career Slam title, ties him with Pete Sampras as the all-time leader in Grand Slam titles. At 27, Federer won his 14th title in almost four less years than Sampras. Federer needed 27 years and 303 days while Sampras was 31 years and 27 days old.
Who gets your POTW?
I’ll nominate Roy Halladay for throwing two complete games in one week. He gave up four runs, but struck out 14, in the first one, and pitched a shutout in the second. Overall: 18 IP, 14 H, 1 BB, 20 K, 4 ER (2.00), 2 Wins.
Chas – great call! Halladay is becoming a throw back. A starter who finishes. What a great idea.
Chas – Did I hear correctly? Halladay only threw 97 pitches yesterday?
I didn’t hear that, but I looked at the box score, and you’re right. 97 pitches. Pretty impressive.
I am going with the USA Men’s Soccer team who beat Honduras 2-1 in a must win game in a World Cup qualifying match. The US team lost to Costa Rica 3-1 earlier in the week and gave up an early goal against Honduras. But the US gathered itself and dominated the rest of the game.
The goal scored by Carlos Bocanegra was fantastic. Saturday night was the first time in 24 years that a USA soccer team has rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win a World Cup Qualifier match. Next up for the US team is a game against Meixco in Aztec Stadium – where they have never won. This might be the year.
Smitty – great call!
The World Cup is a little more than a year away. How sweet it is!
As I said a few days ago when we were discussing Randy Johnson and 300 game winners, I think Halladay has the best chance to approach 300 wins of all the active MLB hurlers. (Not necessarily a “good chance”, but the “best chance” of all those guys). 1) He really knows “how to pitch” and how to win; 2) He doesn’t overthrow and try to strike everyone out … he minimizes pitch counts (ala Maddux). 3) He has the closest pitch I’ve seen that mimics Mariano Rivera’s cut fast ball that tails away from right-handed hitters. You can count on one hand the pitchers who can get that kind of velocity on a pitch that move in tha manner … it’s special.