BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Gleeman: Quote of the Day: ‘I suck. For real. I’m getting old.’

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Friday, June 19, 2009

Gleeman: Quote of the Day: ‘I suck. For real. I’m getting old.’

Don’t be so hard on yourself Aar…oh, ####!.

Orlando Cabrera, after making two defensive mistakes yesterday:

I suck. I don’t even know how to describe it. I suck. For real. I’m getting old, maybe. Maybe a day off is what I need. I’ll take it if there’s a spot they want me to do that.

Normally I’d say that Cabrera is being overly hard on himself, but that’s a tough argument to make for someone who’s hitting .234/.285/.295 with 11 errors and an Ultimate Zone Rating of -5.2 runs in 65 games.

And yes, maybe he is just getting old. Not many shortstops have remained Gold Glove-caliber defenders in their mid-30s and he’ll be 35 years old in November. Luckily he has hugs from Jason Giambi to lighten his mood.

Repoz Posted: June 19, 2009 at 05:55 PM | 48 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: athletics

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1. Zac Schmitt Posted: June 19, 2009 at 06:21 PM (#3225067)

This just brings to mind the fact that in our discussion and analysis we're talking about very real, flesh and blood people who have feelings, desires, thoughts, et cetera. To be fair, most of us, and more importantly, those in the media, do mention this fairly frequently and are mindful of it for the most part, but i think it's important to be reminded every so often that athletes need to come to terms with their own worth in ways you and i don't often have to. Imagine being forced to confront your faults - imagine simply admitting that you're a bad poster/contributer to this site, no less that you're bad at whatever it is you do for a living. and for an athlete, who is probably more likely to build his entire identity and sense of self worth around how "good" he is, this sort of thing must be an amazingly hard to do.

2. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: June 19, 2009 at 06:36 PM (#3225096)

I was watching the other night when Cust dropped a fly ball and Cabrera dropped a pop-up on back-to-back plays. That's was pretty special, even if Cabrera was bailed out by the infield fly rule.

3. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: June 19, 2009 at 06:44 PM (#3225109)

Imagine being forced to confront your faults - imagine simply admitting that you're a bad poster/contributer to this site.

Is this public confession time? As I said in an ealrier post today, I have a tendency to get too meta. Also, I rarely RTFAs, tend to scan threads instead of reading those as well, and I haven't been keeping up on baseball current events outside of the eastern divisions as well as I should. Mea culpa.

4. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: June 19, 2009 at 06:51 PM (#3225128)

I rarely RTFAs, tend to scan threads instead of reading those as well

I consider those as your positives.

5. Zac Schmitt Posted: June 19, 2009 at 06:56 PM (#3225141)

on top of being guilty of everything GGC said - i too often only visit the site when i'm bored at work, i often avoid the site (and all baseball sites) like the plague on days after my team loses (which should be today, but oh well) and i post at the beginning of long threads, never contribute again but then feel like i was part of the overall discussion.

6. Dr Stankus and the Semicolons Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:08 PM (#3225157)

Too frequently, I post drunk.

7. scotto Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:09 PM (#3225159)

Mea culpa.

At least you don't assert your point of view or opinion as the one True Word, which if disagreed with is absolute proof that the disagreer is a puny mortal, lying sack of ####, degenerate ideologue, or all of the above, unleavened by wit, self-mockery or any display of self-deprecation or a sense of humor.

Like Dr. Stankus or pv nasby, you know?

8. RJ in TO Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:12 PM (#3225164)

Too frequently, I post drunk.

Wait a second... posting drunk is considered to be a flaw?

9. HollywoodHartman Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:12 PM (#3225165)

I contribute nothing and nobody knows who I am.

10. There are no words... (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:13 PM (#3225168)

I suck. For real. I’m getting old

Me too, O...me, too...

11. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:16 PM (#3225169)

scotto, this isn't the "I'm OK, you're OK" thread :).

Doc, I've posted after a few before and woke up in the morning dreading reading what I've written and it's aftermath. Usually it is no worse than normal.

Luckily he has hugs from Jason Giambi to lighten his mood.

This made me chuckle.

12. Craig Calcaterra Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:22 PM (#3225184)

I contribute nothing and nobody knows who I am.

If it will make you feel better, I hereby declare you my mortal enemy (on BTF), and will stalk you from thread to thread.

My confession: I'm really Mike Piazza, and I was just using this Calcaterra guy's name as a sock puppet back in 2004 when we went to registered accounts. I never had a chance to change back. I feel so ashamed.

13. zenbitz Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:23 PM (#3225186)

Headline would be inspiring if it was in the porn thread.

14. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:41 PM (#3225210)

Does anyone drop routine fly balls like Cust does? I think I might be a better outfielder than he is.

15. Steve Treder Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:52 PM (#3225222)

Does anyone drop routine fly balls like Cust does? I think I might be a better outfielder than he is.

At the outset of the Giants/A's series last weekend, Ray Fosse on TV was saying how surprisingly good a defensive outfielder Cust has turned out to be, defying the butcher reputation he had. Then I watched Cust in that series, and I was thinking, "Really?" He seemed positively Glenallen Hill-esque out there.

16. pv nasby Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:55 PM (#3225227)

I like Lee Corso, Skip Bayless and Woody Paige.

17. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: June 19, 2009 at 07:59 PM (#3225233)

I like Lee Corso, Skip Bayless and Woody Paige.

Isn't Bayless the only bad guy of this trio? I just picture the other two as clowns and nothing worse.

18. scotto Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:03 PM (#3225237)

I like Lee Corso, Skip Bayless and Woody Paige.

You are a puny, imbecilic moron.

19. The Well-Tempered Javier Vasquez (loungehead) Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:04 PM (#3225239)

The first time I ever saw Corso I thought to myself, "Why is Mel Brooks talking about football?" I was strangely disappointed when I discovered the truth.

20. esseff Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:05 PM (#3225243)

Then I watched Cust in that series, and I was thinking, "Really?" He seemed positively Glenallen Hill-esque out there.

Capped by the ball hit into the far right-center gap that he just watched and waited to stop bouncing around before he even made an attempt to pick it up. By the time he did, the batter (Schierholtz?) had circled the bases for an ITPHR.

21. pv nasby Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:07 PM (#3225249)

You are a puny, imbecilic moron.

I'm not puny. In the Irish it skips a generation.

22. Steve Treder Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:11 PM (#3225251)

Capped by the ball hit into the far right-center gap that he just watched and waited for it to stop bouncing around so much before he even made an attempt to pick it up. By the time he did, the batter (Schierholtz?) had circled the bases for an ITPHR.

After having completed a less-than-direct route at the approximate speed of a riding mower to get there.

23. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:11 PM (#3225253)

Then I watched Cust in that series, and I was thinking, "Really?" He seemed positively Glenallen Hill-esque out there.

I don't see Cust regularly but the ball he dropped against the Dodgers was as easy of a play as there could be. Little pop into short right, he staggered around and ended up getting a glove on it and it still got down. An embarrassing play for a high schooler.

24. esseff Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:19 PM (#3225262)

Embarrassing even for Chris Duncan.

25. Moe Greene Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:35 PM (#3225282)

Even for Luis Castillo?

26. Walt Davis Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:40 PM (#3225289)

You think Cabrera has it tough. Imagine how I felt when I realized I was too old and injured to continue playing slow pitch softball.

And still I was better in the field than Cust.

27. Ron Johnson Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:47 PM (#3225294)

First time I saw Cust in person the fans started an "E7" chant for him. Granted, first hit of the game, 7th inning (Stephens had been giving up laser beams all night -- right at people. This was a little bloop. No LF in the game could have got to it)

Right up there on the list of strange things I've seen at the park.

Embarrassing even for Chris Duncan.

I've often said Kevin Reimer was the worst I've ever seen, but his specialty wasn't dropping the ball. I don't think he could read a ball in flight. He always gave a good effort, but when you run as hard as you can in a random direction funny things can happen.

Only major leaguer I've ever seen dive for a ball and miss it by yards.

28. Biff isn't really an apt handle anymore Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:51 PM (#3225298)

It sounds like we need some Cust GIFs to follow up to hilarity of the Ibanez GIFs.

29. Dr Stankus and the Semicolons Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:51 PM (#3225300)

I'm not puny. In the Irish it skips a generation.

Your poor kids.

30. The District Attorney Posted: June 19, 2009 at 08:54 PM (#3225305)

At the outset of the Giants/A's series last weekend, Ray Fosse on TV was saying how surprisingly good a defensive outfielder Cust has turned out to be, defying the butcher reputation he had.

Yes, same thing with Sheffield for the Mets. When the expectation is that you'll fall down and pee your pants on every fly ball, it's hard not to outperform it.

Only major leaguer I've ever seen dive for a ball and miss it by yards.

I have a vivid memory of Gabe Kapler (Gammons, forgive me) doing this for the Red Sox... it was probably the postseason.

31. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:00 PM (#3225313)

Steve, so if I understand correctly Cust cuts a wide swath in the outfield....

32. The District Attorney Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:04 PM (#3225316)

Newsblog: Gleeman: Quote of the Day: 'I suck. For real. I'm getting old.'
(31 - 5:00pm, Jun 19)
Last: Harveys Wallbangers

Don’t be so hard on yourself Harv...oh, ####!.

33. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:06 PM (#3225318)

Only major leaguer I've ever seen dive for a ball and miss it by yards.

I remember Melky Cabrera doing that in Fenway back during that year-too-soon callup the Yankees gave him. He's charging a line drive and dives as it passes him, a solid 8-10 feet to his right. That was just a kid who needed more practice, though.

Jeremy Giambi I remember mostly not so much misreading balls as tripping over his own feet while lumbering toward them. Though he wasn't usually that good at taking a smart route, either.

34. esseff Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:08 PM (#3225322)

I am reminded of Bill James' classic take on Lonnie Smith:

"You have to understand that Lonnie makes defensive mistakes every game; he knows how to handle it. Your average outfielder is inclined to panic when he falls down chasing a ball in the corner; he may just give up and sit there a while, trying to figure it out. Lonnie has a pop-up slide perfected for the occasion. Another outfielder might have no idea where the ball was when it bounded off his glove; Lonnie can calculate with the instinctive astrophysics of a tennis player where a ball will land when it skips off the heel of his glove, what the angle of glide will be when he tips it off the webbing, what the spin will be when the ball skids off the thumb of the mitt. Many players can kick a ball behind them without ever knowing it; Lonnie can judge by the pitch of the thud and the subtle pressure on his shoe in which direction and how far he has projected the sphere. He knows exactly what to do when a ball spins out of his hand and flies crazily into a void on the field, when it is appropriate for him to scramble after the ball and when he needs to back up the man who will have to recover it."

35. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:13 PM (#3225326)

36. BeanoCook Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:16 PM (#3225330)

I like Lee Corso, Skip Bayless and Woody Paige.

Lee Corso had a stroke a few months ago, but is expected to resume his broadcast duties.

37. Steve Treder Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:18 PM (#3225332)

#34, good times. Do you have James's riff on Willie Aikens' fielding handy?

38. Steve Treder Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:20 PM (#3225334)

I swear I saw Jim Ray Hart fall asleep standing up. The ground ball struck him, he acted startled, grabbed the ball and got the guy at first. (Torre?)

I told the guy next to me Jim must play best when not asked to think

Knowing Jimmy Ray, let's just say it isn't beyond the realm of possibility that authorities believe alcohol may have been involved.

39. esseff Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:26 PM (#3225341)

Steve, you'd have to tell me the year. I have '84, '85, '86 and '88 abstracts and '90, '91 and '92 Baseball Books.

40. Steve Treder Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:29 PM (#3225348)

Might be '84, no later than that. In the "first basemen" section.

41. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:32 PM (#3225350)

Steve:

Any truth to the story that Jim showed up a bit early to "sweat out the poisons" and when he got the clubhouse when finished rung out his shirt into a cup and asked anyone if they wanted a dirty martini?

42. Steve Treder Posted: June 19, 2009 at 09:38 PM (#3225355)

Any truth to the story that Jim showed up a bit early to "sweat out the poisons" and when he got the clubhouse when finished rung out his shirt into a cup and asked anyone if they wanted a dirty martini?

Wouldn't put it past him.

But of course the young Mr. Hart was simply following long-hallowed corporate culture. I've been told that the reason the Giants built their grand spring training complex in Casa Grande, Arizona -- still way in the hell out in the middle of the desert today; one wonders what it must have been like in the 1950s -- was that Horace Stoneham regularly availed himself of the dry-out services of a hot-springs spa near that town, and so figured it would be convenient to have the spring training activities be conducted there as well.

43. Smitty* Posted: June 20, 2009 at 02:12 AM (#3225670)

I haven't posted in 9 months, rarely even visit the site anymore, and always say something about someone hating pants.

Oh, and don't you hate pants?

44. Cowboy Popup Posted: June 20, 2009 at 02:25 AM (#3225678)

Lee Corso had a stroke a few months ago, but is expected to resume his broadcast duties.

Wow, that's really sad but I'm glad he's recovered. I didn't even hear about this. I don't want to watch Gameday if it doesn't have Lee Corso on it.

45. Greg Pope Posted: June 20, 2009 at 02:30 AM (#3225681)

Lonnie can calculate with the instinctive astrophysics of a tennis player

The quote is awesome, but what the heck does this mean?

46. The Artist Posted: June 20, 2009 at 02:40 AM (#3225689)

I'll echo Steve - Jack Cust playing RF at AT&T;was easily the most fun I've had since seeing Glenallen Hill play "defense". Just a blast as a Giants fan.

47. Alex meets the threshold for granular review Posted: June 20, 2009 at 03:48 AM (#3225729)

That Bill James quote on Lonnie Smith is one of the funnier things I've ever read.

48. SouthSideRyan Posted: June 20, 2009 at 04:11 AM (#3225745)

I have a vivid memory of Gabe Kapler (Gammons, forgive me) doing this for the Red Sox... it was probably the postseason.

http://gabekaplerfails.ytmnd.com/

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Gleeman: Quote of the Day: ‘I suck. For real. I’m getting old.’

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