A FEW QUICK COMMENTS

The Yanks didn't lose last night, so I was able to read the paper without trepidation this morning.

***STEVE PHILLIPS, REMEMBER HIM?***
I had hoped that he had faded into obscurity,while being treated for sex addiction. Apparently, one of the symptoms is a lack of blood flow to the brain, since he still isn't making much sense. In a phone call to Mike Francesa, of WFAN, recently, Phillips said, "If I were running the Washington Nationals, I'd trade Steven Strasburg for Ray Oswalt straight up, right now." National fans everywhere issued a sigh of relief. If you had a team vying for a title in July, you might trade a 'prospect' for Oswalt to get you over the hump. But when you're an expansion team, starting to put it together, why would you trade MLB's absolute best pitching prospect for a 33-year old pitcher with 1800+ innings logged on his arm. And Phillips STILL doesn't know why he's not the Mets GM anymore. It's pretty obvious which body organ came up with this idea.

***OH, THOSE BATTLING METS***
This wasn't a compliment. Recently, pitcher John Maine and manager Jerry Manuel had a heated exchange in the dugout. Now, reliever Francisco Rodriquez and Mets bullpen coach, Randy Niemann, had to be separated in the Mets bullpen, over a dispute about how he's being used. What's the bullpen coach got to do with it? Doesn't he just answer the phone and hand the pitchers a baseball? Did Niemann ask him to lock up the bullpen after the game? That's not what "closer" means, Randy.

***I WAS REALLY WORRIED***
The Texas Rangers filed for chapter 11, recently, but have no fear, Yankee fans. Word is that Alex Rodriquez WILL get the $25 million in salary still owed him from the 2004 deal with the Yanks. Phew! That's a relief. I know that's not even a years salary for A-Rod, but still, those actresses he's dating are used to first class. None of those cubic zirconia earrings for Cameron Diaz.

***ALL QUIET ON THE MANAGERIAL FRONT***
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has been terminated, but baseball's three top candidates for unemployment are still around: Ken Macha, Milwaukee, Dave Trembly, Baltimore, and the perennial Jerry Manuel, The Mets. Ozzie Guillen is a sometimes candidate but his secondary job of White Sox buffoon certainly helps keep him employed.

***INTERESTING LITTLE TIDBIT***
Dwight Perry, Seattle Times, points out that as of this morning, the Toronto Blue Jays, in 3rd place in the AL East, 6 games out, would either be leading or within ONE game of first in all 5 other divisions.
To paraphrase Satchel Paige, "Don't look back, Yanks they ARE gaining on you."

I'm going to eat breakfast now. Annie-O says she has some special cajun dish for me.

CP-