Is there anything worse than cheating? Yes, getting caught. There's a number of baseball rules that get broken every game and nothing is done about it, except in extreme cases. The only doctoring of bats that is allowed is pine-tar (excuse that word) on the handles for better grip. But, as we have seen, bats have been "corked," loaded or hollowed out. If caught, the bat is "ejected," not the hitter. Umpires are not allowed to call time out for a batter when the pitcher is on the rubber ready to pitch. They do it all the time. I've seen an ump refuse a last-second time out only once in the last five years, and then the batter glared at the ump like he had just insulted his mother.
So Pineda's pine-tar incident is just another example of, "They all do it, just not that obviously." So Pineda gets ejected and probably suspended for something everybody does. Even the opposing manager, John Farrell, seemed apologetic over raising the issue, but if you do the crime, you'll do the time.
One more point: the Yankee announcers seemed sure that the Yanks will retaliate in kind during tonight's game. Don't bet on it. First of all, that would just look childish and petulant, and secondly, do you really think any Red Sox pitcher would be that stupid as to try and do anything like that?
Michael Robinson, Seattle Seahawk's fullback, will be appearing on "The Young & The Restless," the CBS soap opera. If that's his interest, why doesn't he just sign with the San Fran 49ers, they have all the drama you could want.
Congratulations to Albert Pujols, who hit his 500th career homer on Tuesday. He's 34 years old and in the third year of a 10-year deal. He's averaged 41 homers a year so far, but the questing is, can he average at least 25 homes a year for the next 7+ years to reach that magic 700 number? The major problem is injuries, of course, and Albert is starting to have his share, so you'd think the odds are against him. A couple more 45+ homer years would certainly put it in reach.
One of baseball's magnificent late season collapses took place in 1969, when the Chicago Cubs basically had it won until they let the "Miracle Mets" swoop in and win. How bad was it? Chicago sportswriter Mike Royko described it as, "...so bad I thought the Cubs were going to move to the Philippines and rename themselves the 'Manila Folders.'"
Speaking of soap operas. there is one brewing in the NY Knicks front office. Owner James Dolan hired former Knick player and coach of multiple NBA champions, Phil Jackson, to be General Manager of the Knickerbockers. Unlike with previous GMs and coaches, Dolan promised Jackson complete autonomy for decisions involving basketball operations. Yeah, right. Jackson began his house cleaning by firing the coach and his staff and then tried to fire some of the front office staff. "Hold on, there," said Dolan, "We need to talk about this." So much for autonomy.
***THEY SAID IT***
"Sammy Sosa was absent from today’s ceremony
commemorating the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field. Supposedly he
wasn’t invited. But maybe the Cubs just sent him an invitation in
English?" -- Janice Hough
"Defensive end Jason Vega re-signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers the same day
he popped the question. He now looks forward to scraps, verbal abuse,
getting pushed around and battling offensive people. And that's just the
wedding planning." -- RJ Currie
"Scouts are confident Johnny Manziel has enough character issues to succeed in NFL." -- The Onion.com.
"NBA commissioner Adam Silver has a plan to raise the minimum player age
from 19 to 20. However, the league’s age maximum will continue to be Kevin
Garnett.” -- Seth Meyers
"Cowboys QB Tony Romo turned 34 on Monday. Meanwhile, his back turned 64." -- Dwight Perry
"Another thought about Pineda. He had to know
they were watching him after the alleged pine-tar on the glove earlier
this year. And he puts it on his neck?! I don’t know if Jesus wept, but
Gaylord Perry certainly did." -- Janice Hough
"New NASCAR star Chase Elliott is a high-school senior. He recently set a record when he became the first driver to lead a race while texting." -- Brad Dickson
"Nebraska coach Bo Pelini let a cheerleader call a play during the Cornhuskers’ spring football game. Just one problem: The entire backfield was in motion." -- Dwight Perry
CP-
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