The Phillies started a guy named Eude yesterday. This can’t be good. Eude? How do you even say that? U-day? Isn’t that one of the Hussein brothers? They managed to salvage the Pirates series by not giving a homer to a pitcher, for a change. Of course in that ridiculous bandbox of a park where they play (though the Cubs couldn’t get one out there with a cannon) anybody can go deep. If Carlos pitched in Philly he’d hit 18 homers a year.
Charlie Manuel decided to give Ryan Howard a day off against Pirates lefty Mark Redman, so who did he play at first base? Did he use Pat Burrell there and use Jason Michaels in left? No. He used Ramon Martinez. Yes, the same Ramon Martinez who was a playing time succubus on the 2003 and 2004 Cubs. Apparently, making out dumb lineups is not something Dusty Baker has the patent on.
Wow, pretending we like the Phillies is going to take some work, isn’t it?
Anyway, they are off to the West Coast tonight where our old pal Jon Lieber will take on boat-building enthusiast Noah Lowry. They have three in San Francisco, followed by three in Arizona then come back for four games in New York and three more in Washington. Well, that’s good news, because if the Phillies tank, we’ll have time to jump on another bandwagon with three weeks to go. Or we’ll just kill ourselves. Either seems likely at this point.
Andy MacPhail came out of hiding yesterday to give a few comments sure to send Cubs’ fans into hysterics. He says he’s “content” with Jim Hendry and that Hendry is “content” with Dusty. Well, sure, what’s not to be content about?
The National League is as bad as it’s been in 20 years, as only two teams are any good and both have flaws you could drive a freakin’ truck through. The Cardinals have two offensive players and a bullpen so flawed you can see through it (their ace lefty weighs 300 pounds, is a former Cub and Brewer and can’t get lefties out), and they are easily the class of the league. Nobody’s close. The only other good team, the Braves, have nine rookies on their roster right now. Woof.
And the Cubs, despite a big payroll, a big-name manager (who is big in name only) and All-Stars at both corners of the infield are 60-64, and if the NL was as good as it typically is, would be 50-74. But Andy’s content. Oh, that’s nice.
Mariotti puts down the doughnut to proclaim the end of the Chad Hutchinson era. He’s probably right that the sensible thing would be to start Orton next week and made Chad the backup. He’s got third string talent, so starting him over anybody at this point seems folly. But these are the Bears, a team so forward-thinking it can’t get it’s number one draft pick into camp. They’ll play Chad until they go 0-7, then go with Orton. Great.
In an Insider column today, Peter Gammons asks GMs who the best rookies are, and the usual suspects are at the top, including Rickie Weeks, Jeff Francouer, Conor Jackson, Huston Street, etc, and he lists the top 11, then he adds this:
Also receiving votes: Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees; Scott Baker, RHP, Twins; Nook Logan, CF, Tigers; Hayden Penn, RHP, Orioles; Joe Blanton, RHP, Athletics; Scott Olsen, LHP, Marlins; Matt Murton, OF, Cubs; Johnny Cedeno, SS, Cubs; Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, Reds; Kyle Davies, RHP, Braves; Yuniesky Betancourt, SS, Mariners; Chien-Ming Wang, RHP, Yankees.
I’m not sure who that Johnny Cedeno is, but I wonder if he’s any relation to Ronny? Oh, good, maybe Ronny’s a twin!
It’s Monday Morning (well, it was when I started this) and it’s time for Peter King. He loves Julius Jones.
America’s finest news source on the Michael Jackson jurors.
