Apparently whoever writes the headlines at MLB.com has no idea what a “beaning” is, because they think taking a line drive off your elbow is a beaning. I’d like to show the headline writer what it is. Somebody get me a baseball.
Which Cubs player said this:
When I try to hit a home run, I don’t hit anything.
a. Corey Patterson
b. Jeromy Burnitz
c. Carlos Zambrano
d. Yosh Kawano
It’d be nice if they all said it, but it was Carlos.
The Bears have left Bourbonnais in their rear view (always a good thing), but some starting spots are still up for grabs. I’d like to see Justin Gage play well enough to win the number two receiver spot, but I get the feeling the Bears will just hand it to him, regardless.
Mariotti puts down the doughnut to blame the Bears for Cedric Benson’s holdout. I’m always uncomfortable when I agree with Jay on anything. I’m uncomfortable right now.
It’s time for the Bears to realize that no matter how much they talk up Thomas Jones, that his career has been marked by inconsistency and injury and by week three he’s going to be one or the other, or both, and that once Rex crumpled to the turf in St. Louis that Benson had them by the shorthairs. They need him to be in camp more than he needs to be in camp.
Nomar’s not worried about his sore back. His bank account should be. His only chance of cashing in either with the Cubs or anybody else (maybe the Yakult Swallows?) is to be healthy for the last six weeks and make people think that now that his groin has grown back (eww) that he’s ready for a couple years of health and productivity. You and I know that’s a pipedream, but big league GMs, including the pastry-loving Cubs guy, will buy it if he plays the vast majority of the games from here on out. It’s actually kind of fun to pretend it might happen. It’s also kind of fun to pretend that your computer keyboard is made out of chocolate. l;kjkljklj kljlk jdfkjdkfd;jfidfjepdiouqeujreljnd,.cm,mc/mdkfjdifdopjfidj pf;ad.m,/d.,mfdikdjaiudjemddm
But it’s not.
Mike Kiley with yet another story on Kerry Wood’s bullpen prowess. My theory is that his years of extensive simulated game dominance have given Kerry an affinity for the bullpen mound. He knows it like you or I know the way around our living room. He’s spent many a quality afternoon on that bullpen mound, and has had some of his finest performances there. Why just last year he struck out 18 simulated batters in six innings. No wonder he’s taken to his bullpen role so quickly. And by the way, if you think I’m going to stop banging the drum for him to be a full-time reliever, it’s not going to happen. He was a tough but inconsistent starter, he was never Roger Clemens or Roy Oswalt (or any of the guys he’s compared to in this article–even Carlos), but coming out of the bullpen he’s been everything we ever dreamed he could be. He could be one of the best…ever. I truly believe this. So I’m going to keep banging away…
Here’s the article on Ozzie’s postgame meeting. I also love this part…
Buehrle was called for a balk in the fifth, which opened the door for Minnesota.
With runners on the corners, Buehrle tried picking Lew Ford off first base and umpire Jerry Layne called the infraction. Mike Redmond scored from third base, setting up the big inning.
Buehrle disagreed with Layne’s ruling.
“I’ve been doing it for four years,’’ he said of his pickoff move. “That’s a big call. It goes from 2-0 to 5-0. It’s a whole different ballgame.’’
Three runs scored on one balk? No wonder Buehrle’s mad. I don’t think that’s even in the rulebook.
Peter Gammons has a list of guys who have cleared waivers so far:
Starting pitchers: Clemens, Rodrigo Lopez, Glendon Rusch, Orlando Hernandez, Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang, Andy Pettitte, Doug Davis, Kyle Lohse, Vicente Padilla Brett Tomko, Jamie Moyer, Gil Meche, Josh Towers and Jeff Suppan.
Relief pitchers: Jose Valverde, Jorge Sosa, Jorge Julio, B.J. Ryan, Mike Myers, Cliff Politte, Damaso Marte, Kent Mercker, David Weathers, Sunny Kim, Ron Villone, Dan Wheeler, Jeremy Affeldt, Mike MacDougal, Brendan Donnelly, Yhency Brazoban, Chris Hammond, Akinori Otsuka, John Grabow, Matt Wise, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson, Billy Wagner, Ugueth Urbina, Brian Shouse, Miguel Batista, Eddie Guardado, Julio Mateo and J.J. Putz.
Position players: Tony Clark, Conor Jackson, Wilson Betemit, Jay Gibbons, Bill Mueller, Kevin Youkilis, Corey Patterson, Rob Mackowiak, Dunn, Kearns, Jeff DaVanon, Russell Branyan, Kaz Matsui, Kenny Lofton and Shea Hillenbrand.
Utilitymen: Olmedo Saenz, Neifi Perez, Ryan Freel, Lenny Harris, Chris Woodward, Marlon Anderson, Mark Sweeney and Pete Orr.
Catchers: Matt Treanor, Josh Paul and Mike Redmond.
And more: Steve Kline, Ryan Vogelsong, Jason Christiansen, Scott Schoeneweis, Justin Speier, LaTroy Hawkins, Duaner Sanchez, Ramon Ortiz and Braden Looper, Josh Fogg, Odalis Perez, Derek Lowe, Tom Glavine, Joe Mays, Tomo Ohka, Jose Lima, Bruce Chen and Joel Pineiro.
Mike Piazza cleared, as did Griffey and Sweeney. Frank Catalanotto, Dustan Mohr, Todd Hollandsworth, Todd Walker and Edgardo Alfonzo.
Neifi got through? That actually surprises me, since he makes nothing (in baseball terms), but Billy Wagner? How is this possible? He’s in the final year of his deal and he cleared waivers? Huh?
Well, wait, this is Gammons’ list. I love him, but he’s wrong most of the time.
The Cardinals might want to check out any of the third basemen on that list. Scott Rolen’s return looks like it’s set for sometime in early 2006. Oh, that’s too bad. Boo freakin’ hoo.
Drew Lawrence on the ridiculous offseason of the Atlanta Hawks.
CBS is going to change the way we see the nightly news, and nobody will notice, or care. The only way to get me to change the way I watch the nightly news would be to force me to watch it.
America’s finest news source with an editorial about…uh…being called crazy for changing shampoos? Really?
