RESUSITATION?

SMALL BALL, LONG BALL AND FAST FEET
I should have added - STRIKEOUTS. It's always easier to win when you have a varied offense. The Yanks put together some well-placed bunts and a timely home run to beat Tampa yesterday. Throw in 3 stolen bases by a youngster (Nunez) and a team high 13th steal by a veteran (A-Rod), and you give an opponent a lot to think about. New York is finally beginning to look like the juggernaut they were back in July when they built a 10-game lead. The lead is down to one now, but the outlook isn't quite so foreboding. The Yanks have a tough series next weekend with Oakland and the pennant race will be much clearer by Sunday night.

A ground ball hit something in the infield and bounced over A-Rod's head at third with the bases loaded. It made the game much closer after two runs scored. If this had happened about 15 years ago when George was running things, there would be a couple of groundskeepers looking for work today.

Matt Moore threw a pitch that sailed back of Curtis Granderson's head. Home plate umpire, Paul Emmel, immediately went out and warned both benches. Granted, Martin had just broke open the game with a three-run homer, but that was two batters before Grandy went to the plate. Tampa manager Joe Maddon, was very vocal in telling Emmel, "You're wrong!" but Emmel had the final say when he gave Maddon the heave-ho. I don't think Emmel was right either.

When Andruw Jones came to the plate in the bottom of the 2nd to face lefty fireballer Matt Moore, Michael Kay remarked, "The Yanks hope Andruw will walk into a fastball."  He did. Moore hit him in the arm with a fastball.  And Michael didn't even take a bow.  Later, Michael had the best line of the day when he recapped all the strikeouts by both pitchers. "When you read the scorecard, it looks like the guest list at my family reunion."

MANAGERS ON THE HOT SEAT
Ozzie Guillen not only hasn't been able to produce a winner for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, but he's also managed to irritate the Miami Cuban fan base with some complimentary remarks about Fidel Castro. He's got three years left on his contract at $2.5 million per year, and Loria is not one to take money losses sitting down, but word is that he's not happy with Ozzie and his penchant for controversy.

Resident Genius Jim Leland of the Detroit Tigers, has also had a disappointing season. They're not out of the playoff picture yet, but they were supposed to dominate the AL Central, instead, they're in 2nd place, 2 games out and 4.5 games back in the wild card race. There is talk that Leland doesn't have the rapport with his players that he once did.

Speaking of having a good rapport with your players, Bobby Valentine has again talked himself into a corner with another thoughtless remark. In an interview, Bobby said, "This is the weakest roster we've ever had in September in the history of baseball." He wasn't going to limit his remarks to the Major League roster, either. When he was asked if he would bring up some rookies from the minors, he replied, "I don't think there's a lot of guys left in Pawtucket that I would bring up." If his expected exit from  the Red Sox was ever in doubt, this should seal the coffin. Some guys just don't know when to shut up.

One guy whose job is NOT in danger is the Orioles Buck Showalter. Baltimore will have it's first winning season in 14 years. The Yanks have a streak of 20 straight winning seasons. The Major League record is 39 held by the Yankees (1926-1964).

OH YEAH, IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON AGAIN
 I wonder if the Professional teams have to extend the training season by a few days, so the players can work on their touchdown celebration dances?
 The New York Giants' offensive coordinator, Kevin Gilbride, accidentally shaved off half of his mustache when he momentarily got distracted while shaving. What else could have been going on in that bathroom that was so interesting?
 With less than a minute to play, New England tight end Rob Gronkowski was called for a penalty that forced NE to try a 42-yard game-winning field goal, which they missed. I think "Gronk" may be in for a couple of e-mails from Tom Brady's wife, Gisele Bundchen.
From Brad Dickson's BOTTOM TEN:
3. Colorado (0-3): Home games are such non-events that students have begun showing up sober.
5. Idaho (0-3): Lost to LSU 63-14 Saturday in a contest that was pretty much over when the schedule was announced in 2004.
8. Wyoming (0-3): The Cowboys lost to Cal Poly 24-22 Saturday. Their next game is with Idaho in the Someone’s Gotta Win This Thing Bowl.


 THEY SAID IT
" The captain of the Costa Concordia that ran aground in January is now charged with prematurely abandoning a sinking ship. In a related story, Red Sox owner John Henry denies he's selling the team."  -- RJ Currie
"An army vet fishing for bass near Springfield, Mo., reeled in a sock with a live hand grenade in it.
It's already being hailed as the fastest catch-and-release in angling history."  -- Dwight Perry
"A poll revealed that 58 percent of Americans believe Barack Obama would beat Mitt Romney in a fistfight: "Make it a pay-per-view event. We could wipe out the national debt in one night."  -- Jimmy Kimmel
"Wisconsin fired its new offensive line coach after two games. He said there are things he wished he had been given time to do in Madison — like unpack."  -- Brad Dickson
" The Patriots fell at home to the Arizona Cardinals. Frustrated New England fans are wondering if they can blame it on Bobby Valentine?"  -- Janice Hough
"The NFL replacement refs have missed calls, awarded extra timeouts and failed to explain penalties. Well, it didn’t take them long to get the hang of the job."  -- Brad Dickson

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