Sunday, April 11, 2010

AROUND THE HORN

***AT LEAST HE'S EASY ON THE BASEBALLS***
Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks, struck out 223 times last year, leading the league. Add in his 76 walks and 5 hit-by-pitches, and you realize that he never touched the ball in 304 plate appearances. Good thing his contract isn't based on piece-count. He might owe the D-Backs money.

***THE PRESSURE'S OFF THE AL CENTRAL***
Last year, the AL Central was described as the "island of misfit toys," because of their expected ineptitude. This year, it's the AL WEST. Buster Olney describes them as "...a division of mudwrestlers." Doesn't sound bad to me if you realize that mudwrestlers are usually women in (and out) of bikinis. They might not play too well, but the stadiums should be full.

***NOT WHAT YOU'D CALL A GOOD TRADE***
The Mariners gave up a ton to get Cliff Lee. What have they got so far? Lee will be on the DL until May and word is, if the Mariners aren't doing well, Lee will be traded in July. Payroll ceilings be damned: can you say "pinstripes?"

***SPEAKING OF SEATTLE***
From Dwight Perry: Get him outta here
"Details are sketchy on a possible Bobby Cox Night in Atlanta to honor the lame-duck Braves manager with the record 154 career ejections, but it reportedly would include a 21-thumb salute."

***THE MILTON BRADLEY BOARD GAME***
Bradley must finally be happy in Seattle. I read that he told the Mariner fans that they were "number one," after they booed him...kinda.

***AND ONLY 5 GAMES IN***
Ozzie Guillen, White Sox manager, has already let reporters comments get under his skin. "If you don't like the way I manage," he said, "go watch the Cubs." Good idea, we all know how well Lou Piniella deals with criticism. Do I detect a pattern with managers in Chicago here? "If you can't win, at least entertain the press."

***THIS IS GOING TO IRRITATE ME ALL YEAR***
My former favorite Yankee, Hideki Matsui, got a walk-off hit for the Angels yesterday. He's currently hitting .417 and I'm getting a headache banging my head on the desk.

***HE'S A WINNER, SO YA' GOTTA LISTEN***
From the New York Times: Uconn womens' basketball coach, Geno Auriemma thinks stretching is "The biggest waste of time in sports." Yet he still has his players do it, but "...just so they can sit around and talk about shoes and movies and things. I stay in my office until they're done. It's nauseating."

***WELL, OH YEAH?***
CC Sabathia did not allow a hit until there were 2 out in the 8th inning against the Rays, yesterday. Joe Girardi says he would have taken him out at the end of the inning anyway. When this was told to CC, he replied, "There would have been a fight."

CP-

No comments: