HOW ABOUT TALKING SOME BASEBALL

Sorry to interrupt the political commentary and the comedic "Open Mike," but I need a baseball fix.

***PABLO'S STILL AT IT***
San Fran's 3rd baseman, Pablo Sandoval is still struggling with the weight problem. He's been watching videos of himself running the bases to help improve his technique. No one has been able to convince him the videos are not being run in slo-mo.

***PITCH-TIPPING***
The claim is that every team has someone who is very adept at picking up tips on what a pitcher is going to throw. Little habits that a pitcher develops that give away his intention. So why are there still so many .250 hitters? Well, it's one thing to know, and another thing entirely to hit what you know is coming. Even Mariano Rivera tips his cut fastball: it's when he gets the ball from the catcher.

***OZZIE IN THE NEWS...AGAIN***
White sox manager, Ozzie Guillen, and his GM, Kenny Williams are feuding again, supposedly almost coming to blows during a heated discussion over the recent amateur draft. Ozzie's son was drafted in the 22nd round by the Sox, while Williams son was drafted 6th. Both men deny the exchange but, on the other hand, Ozzie has offered his son $50,000 to refuse to sign with the White Sox. Yeah, there's no problem here.

***HEEEEERE COMES BOBBY!***
The Orioles are courting Bobby Valentine hard. This is probably not a bad move for the O's. Bobby is a decent baseball man and if the Orioles continue to slide, Valentine can provide comic relief to distract the fans. After all, this is the man who returned to the dugout from the clubhouse one inning after being ejected, wearing dark glasses and a fake mustache. It worked, too. Just another play the umpires missed.

***CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?***
The Baseball Hall of Fame has requested Steve Strasburg's hat and a baseball from his debut for display. Are you kidding? One win and he's in the Hall? What will they want for the next win, his glove and a jock strap?

***HOORAY FOR JEFF***
While on a vacation trip last September, Picasner & Annie-O saw a game in Miller Stadium in Milwaukee, picking up a Jeff Suppan Bobblehead doll as part of a promotion. Imagine our grief when Suppan was released outright by the Brewers this week. Annie-O actually blew out the votive candle. Never fear, sports fans, Jeff was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals this week. No return of the candle, of course, 'cause he's in a Brewers uniform.

CP-