...AND NO SURPRISES

Friday, I mentioned some surprising facts, but today, it's business as usual.

The Yanks got shut out 1-0 on two hits yesterday, by a Tampa Bay pitcher who looked like he just left 8th grade recess. He didn't pitch like a 13-year old, though. Nova was almost as good, getting beat on a two-out bloop single. A game like that can be boring and it seemed like the Yankee announcers were bored. The big news of the game was where Jeter was playing his simulated game. If you were that interested in a simulated game, you could have just watched the Yankee batters. That's what you call a simulated game: when the hitters pretend to hit the ball.

Sabathia has been anything but the staff ace this year, giving up 7 runs in one outing 4 times this year. Trying to help him straighten out, the Yanks had him pitch batting practice yesterday and it worked.
He threw a two-hit shutout.

Kuroda and two relievers shut out the Rangers on Thursday and won 2-0. If the Yankee pitchers had shut out Tampa yesterday, they might still be playing. Pressure pitching is when you have to hold the other team to 2 or 3 runs in order to win. Yankee pitcher pressure is when you have to throw a shutout and hope the Yanks can squeeze out one run.

Hafner is now on the DL, just as Jeter comes off. What is this, some kind of round-robin game? One guy on, one guy off. At least it makes roster moves easier.

Cano continues to jog (I'm being kind) to first base. Michael Kay and David Cone at least talked about it this time, but, according to them, Girardi & Cashman, "...have no problem about how Cano plays the game." Well, I do. I understand that you might not want to risk pulling a hamstring needlessly, but Cano looks like he's afraid he'll break into a sweat.

The Phillies and the Rangers are talking about a possible trade for...Michael Young. How does this not look like the Rangers made a big mistake in letting him go? Of course, you could say the same thing about the Yanks and Soriano. 

Bartolo Colon, who is being mentioned prominently in the Biogenesis scandal, is currently 14-3, with a 2.54 ERA, 3 shut-outs and a WHIP of 1.09.  Is it possible that he knows he's going to be suspended and plans on going out in a blaze of glory?

Twins closer Glen Perkins got two batters out before he discovered that his fly was unzipped. I just read my fourth joke on the subject. I guess some straight lines are just irresistible.

***ONE SURPRISE***
David Ortiz backed out of the batter's box yesterday, when the pitcher started to throw. He didn't call time and the umpire called it a strike. Ortiz was insistent that the pitch was high. How can you tell when you're a good 5-6 feet from the plate, looking at the umpire the whole time? Ortiz eventually struck out, yelled at the ump and got thrown out.  He then went on a rampage in the dugout, destroying the bullpen phone with a bat in the process. Which might have been a good thing: the Red Sox bullpen hasn't exactly been lights out this year. They can't blow the game if you're unable to call them in.

***THEY SAID IT***
"Florida linebacker Antonio Morrison was arrested for allegedly barking at a police dog. No truth to the rumor that Morrison then relieved himself on a fire hydrant. Attention all headline writers: Suggestion for the day after Morrison has a bad game: “His bark's worse than his bite.”  -- Brad Dickson
"Give-and-take between ESPN’s Buster Olney and Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, as tweeted by ex-outfielder Gabe Kapler:
Olney: “(Curt) Schilling wants to know why you’re not hitting more HRs?”
Pedroia: “Because I’m not facing him.”  -- From Dwight Perry's column
"LeBron James won’t be a member of the next U.S. Olympic basketball team: “LeBron said he won’t play for any country that has less money than he does."  -- Conan O'Brien
"Giants receiver Victor Cruz, attempting to clarify his earlier grousing remarks, told reporters “I don’t feel underpaid at all” after signing a six-year, $45.9 million contract. Well, that’s a relief: A guy can still scrimp by on just $147,000 a week!"  -- Dwight Perry
"Ryan Braun becomes the first of what might be many PED suspensions this week, and there are seven shutouts in MLB Saturday, including four 1-0 games. I'm sure it’s only coincidence."  -- Janice Hough
"NASCAR driver Danica Patrick was chosen No. 1 of Sportsnet's most attractive female athletes. I imagine it surprised Danica; she’s not used to finishing first." -- RJ Currie
"A photo emerged of Nate Robinson signing a baby at an NBA Summer League game. If you get a chance to see the photo of Robinson and the baby, Robinson's the one on the left."  -- Brad Dickson

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