## The Yanks had their first taste of life without Mo on Wednesday. We watched Robertson blow a ninth inning 1-0 lead in a big way, loading the bases, giving up one run and then a 3-run blast, to turn the game over to the Rays. Soriano was better on Thursday, but he still gave up a run. I think they would be better off using Soriano and fitting in Robertson when there was a little cushion.
They have to solve this one now. You can't say the Yanks aren't doing everything they can for Rivera. He saw at least four different doctors, had x-Rays and MRIs. They did everything but send him to Lourdes.
## Joe Maddon is leading the league in extreme shifts and it's working. Other teams, including the Yanks, are starting to use it, but not to the extent that Maddon does. And, it works. The Yanks had a number of hits 'stolen' by those shifts, so something has to change. These shifts rely on the fact that the hitters won't change the way they hit (Notice that I refuse to say "can't") and that's what makes them effective. Not only that, A-Rod is on third with two outs and Swisher at bat, hitting left-handed. The third baseman was stationed at least thirty feet away, and the pitcher was going into a wind-up. Did A-Rod steal home? Nope! That's the way to make Maddon look like a genius. These guys are major league hitters. If they can't hit the other way, then spend 8 or 10 hours in the batting cage and LEARN. If you can't make that adjustment, I know a nice motel in Scranton. Start a rally, drive in some runs, steal some easy bases and Maddon stops these shifts.
## The Clemens trial is going well - for Clemens. What is it with these prosecutors? I think they have Roger dead to rights and their own witnesses are proving the defense's case. The same thing happened with OJ.
## The yanks have made the fewest errors in the majors - 12. It doesn't mean you're the best defensive team, it just means you catch what you can get to. Except for Eduardo Nunez. He has 4 of the Yanks 12 errors. It's pretty bad when the guy you used to use as a defensive replacement gets replaced himself - in the 6th inning yet. You could see the Rays hitters trying to hit balls to him for three innings. Is that what you would call a Negative Defensive Shift?
## It seems that baseball is going to eliminate the fake-to-third, check-at-first play by pitchers. First of all, it appears to me that it violates the "can't deceive the runner" rule. Secondly, it only works on rare occasions, when the runner on first is asleep (or is Nunez). I'm in favor of it's elimination simply because I can no longer stand Michael Kay's "Ah, the old Jeff Nelson."
## The Red Sox are at it again. Josh Beckett missed a turn because of a sore back, but that didn't deter him from going golfing the next day. Of course, it got leaked and he was pestered with questions, which he dismissed. His position was that it was his day off and what he did on his day off was nobody's business. Yeah, right! Boston is paying him a half a million dollars a start so I think they have every right to question how he deals with his body. Surprisingly, most of the ESPN analysts back Beckett, saying it was a non-issue and no big deal, etc. If the Sox were leading the league (they're not), if Beckett was pitching well (he's not) and Boston hadn't folded like an accordion last year (they did), maybe it wouldn't be a problem. Bobby Valentine "...knew nothing about it," of course. Beckett is just too arrogant for his own good. Last year, he was able to get bombed twice in one day: once on the field and then again in the clubhouse. Now he's limited to once and I think it's making him surly.
And I'm enjoying every minute.
## Vod has asked where Kim Jones went. Well Vod, I understand that the Yanks made several offers for her to stay, but she decided to pursue other options. I think she has signed on to do "Bowling for Dollars."
***THEY SAID IT***
"The population in Amarillo has stayed the same over the last 50 years — every time some woman gets pregnant, some man leaves town.” -- poker player Amarillo Slim
"Chess needs a dress code like Switzerland needs a navy." -- Norman Chad
"Will there be an OPENLY gay male pro athlete in one of the major U.S. sports in the next 20 years? And if so, what sport? How about basketball? Because sooner or later someone’s going to notice the one guy who does not have 9 children by 7 mothers." -- Michael Duca
"Robert Griffin III, the Redskins' rookie QB, has taken steps to trademark "RGIII" and "RG3," ChangeLegal.com reported. The Indianapolis Colts, not to be outdone, immediately declared first dibs on "LOL." -- Dwight Perry
"A poll says that one in seven people worldwide think the world will end during their lifetime. The other six think are waiting for a sign of the apocalypse. Like the Cubs winning the World Series." -- Jim Barach
"The presidential candidates are talking about the need to spend taxpayer money wisely. I Agree. All taxpayer money should be set aside to try Roger Clemens 100 times if need be to get a conviction." -- Brad Dickson
CP-
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