By Patrick “Rey” Reynell
It is that time again. Let’s hear from you readers. We had another week of stellar performances. Pick the ONE that stands out to you, and tell us a story.
Twenty-seven up and twenty-seven down. Perfection. The Phillies’ Roy Halladay saw all twenty-seven plate appearances for the Florida Marlins’ lineup Saturday night and stuck around to retire every last one of them. Not only did Halladay join the Oakland A’s Dallas Braden to throw the second perfect game this season, but they also completed the feat in the same month. The last time the Major League witnessed two perfect games in the same season was 1880. Halladay became the twentieth pitcher to toss a perfect game and only the sixth all-time to do so in a 1-0 game.
Halladay is known for his endurance, having thrown five complete games this year while leading the NL in innings pitched. While with the Blue Jays, he was one out away from a no-hitter, which has to make this perfecto just a little sweeter. The shutout brings his ERA below 2 for the season. I wonder if there are any Cliff Lee advocates remaining….
I’ve taken care of the obvious, so who else deserves a nod for the POTW?
Have to give some credit to Phillies offense. After all, they did get one run; better than they had been doing over 30+ innings against the Mets last week. Jimmy Rollins, please come home soon!
Maybe this isn’t the Performance of the Week since I think they only had one match during the week, but this is more like a POTL3W …Performance of the Last 3 Weeks. And yes, it’s a homer call. But I’ve got to give props to the Notre Dame Lacrosse team who is playing Duke for the National Chan’ship today. “So what?” … you might say. Well, ND’s lacrosse team wasn’t even ranked heading into the NCAA tournament, so how’d the heck did this happen???? Ya got me … I know very little or nothing about lacrosse, but it’s amusing to watch one in a while. I know you right coasters are quite familiar with it. Despite my ignorance … GO IRISH !!!
Roy Halladay and Notre Dame lacrosse are great picks. I had LeMoyne’s men lacrosse team all lined up, but they were unable to bring home the Division II championship. So instead I am going with Nate Washington who was huge for the C`s in their Game 6 win over the magic.
Check out Pete with the Philly love. I never knew.
Wally – great call with the ND lacrosse team. I plan to be in front of the tv for some or all of that game.
I am going with Magic Johnson who predicted Nate Robinson’s performance. What hat did Magic use? Holy cow. Prior to Friday, Robinson was pretty much getting slop time in the playoffs. He played 45 minutes in the playoffs before game 6. 13 of those minutes came in a 29 point loss. Another eight of his minutes came in 29 point win. Yet, Magic predicted and Robinson conjured up visions of Vinnie Johnson.
Great calls all around.
Wally – A surprise on both sides of the lacrosse world for fellow ND alum and Chicago brethren. If Notre Dame was a surprise, so too must have been the Maryland Lady Terrapins upsetting national powerhouse Northwestern for the women’s title.
It is almost become an annual event for me to watch college lacrosse on Memorial Day weekend. LeMoyne’s run in Division II has now stretch 7 years (straight I believe) in the National Division II Championship. It has produced 3 National Championships ( of which we LeMoyne alumni are very proud of) – but it has been a drought now for 4 years from getting a title. It was tough watching the Dolphins flounder in the 2nd half yesterday.
Reynell – one of the things I have managed to pick up watching lacrosse – besides the occasional explanation of a rule (note: I think if I watch annually for 5 more years – I might understand the game), is that before Northwestern women’s lacrosse – there was Maryland. I believe yesterday was their first since 2001, but I believe it was their 13th title. So if you ask Maryland – this was a return to the promise land.
And just when you think you understand lacrosse rules, you find that in HS (NY at least) the rules are different for girls and boys! Geez!
Smitty – Thanks. You learn something new every day on the Pine.
If the holiday Monday was considered part of the “weekend” and hence “last week”, then throw “my Chicago Blackhawks” into the mix. Now up 2-0 after two very exciting yet quite different games. BUT …. as we learned a couple of weeks ago, NEVER count the Flyers out !!
Anti NIemi was magnificent in goal on Monday.
Cubs/Bears/White Sox fans must be releasing their frustrations and going wild with the Hawks playing so well. Here’s hoping the Flyers don’t rally like they did against the Bruins. Gotta love the Blackhawks though; Jekyll and Hyde; whatever is needed on a given night.
The city of Chicago can really use a true city-wide galvanizing, streak-ending chan’ship. The WhiteSox won in 2005, but that only made half (or was it even half?) the city happy. Not since the Bulls won the last of their 6 titles has the entire city rejoiced in sports unison. That was awhile ago. We’re due for another … and the Blackhawks can end the drought that dates back to 1961. Keep playing hard, don’t let up … Go Blackhawks!!!