Friday, April 17, 2009

IT WASN'T THE BEST OF DAYS

***SABATHIA'S NOT RIGHT***
It looks like he's trying to be too fine and not challenging anyone. I wonder if he's overthinking or he just doesn't trust his stuff. Don't think, just throw.

***DON'T HURT ME***
The Cubs Milton Bradley, no stranger to controversy, was ejected for arguing a called third strike. Nothing new there, but he also faces a suspension for "contact" with an umpire. Umpire Larry Vandover says he sent a report indicating contact during the argument. Replays showed that the bill of Bradley's cap MAY have touched Vandover's bill. Wow! No word the length of recovery time for Vandover's hat.

***ANOTHER 'HIP' JOB***
Now Alex Gordon, Kansas City's 25-year-old infielder, need hip surgery. That's three: Mike Lowell, A-Rod and now Gordon. There weren't this many hip surgeries in my Dad's nursing home in two years. What's happening?

***THIS ISN'T GOOD***
There are two hitters in the Yankees lineup who are struggling. Normally, you could work around this, but when it's the 3rd and 4th place hitters, it's kind of a bigger problem. Teixeira always starts slow, but Matsui looks like he's on the downside of an average career. He also looks like he's afraid to swing; he's taking a lot of 'hittable' pitches. Girardi has separated Tex and Matsui, using Swisher in the cleanupup spot. Good thinking.
Part of this problem overflows into the loss of Nady. If Matsui can't play in the field and also can't hit, the Yanks are going to have to replace Nady from outside the organization. Lot of names are being bandied about, but nothing serious yet.

***MANNY ACTE ON THE HOT SEAT***
The Washington Nationals manager is said to to be one short losing streak from being fired. Does he deserve it? Is he a good manager? One scout says, "Who knows? Look what he's got to work with." True enough: one of the Nats 'future stars', Lastings Miledge, just got sent down to the minors. Kinda gives you an idea as to the talent there. Good luck, Manny.

***THE WORD ON THE BIRD***
Greg Nettles tells this Mark Fidrych story: "I tried to distract him by spreading birdseed all over the mound. It didn't work. He ate the birdseed, talked to the ball and shut us out."

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