Bruiser Chong

9-0 thanks to a three-run Blalock homer.

I only had to read the first one to completely agree with the man's assessment.

Wow, the Yankees' lineup looks absolutely pitiful considering what they had Opening Day. Do they really have no one else that their DH tonight is batting .135?

I watch ATH and PTI for entertainment values. When it comes to ATH, there are only a couple of panelists that've ever been on the show whose opinions I consistently respect. Wilbon and Kornheiser are just great for laughs, but they've occasionally got some good insights. ESPN News is a great watch throughout the day, especially during those hours when there's nothing watchable elsewhere. Their various baseball segments are typically great, as they involve people not typically found on the main channel. The numbers are actually a focal part of the conversations and even some of the anchors seem knowledgable on the subjects (i.e. Brian Kenny).

Bottom of NL West usually = three games out.

It's looking like Beckett was pulled from the game last night because of a blister. Uh oh.

What did he say?

In the meantime, you can stock up thanks to the ridiculous number of sales they've been having. Their current Fox B2G1 Free sale ends tonight. Good for anyone who's a fan of their Studio Classics or Film Noir lines.

I'm sure the Sox being so good, the games being at the Cell and Lee still being hurt will more than explain why the Cubs couldn't snag a win. The Nats coming to town for three may break up some of this losing, which could be unfortunate, since it may create the illusion things are okay. Then again, the Cubs were a sparkling 1-5 against them last season. As it stands, I think Maddux, Hill, and Zambrano will be the starting pitchers in the weekend series. I shudder to think how the offense will fare against pitchers that are actually capable of shutting real offenses down. If they got blanked by the likes of Zack Duke, Clay Hensley, and Chan Ho Park, it could get ugly this weekend.

I'm probably with Czech here. I've never understood the appeal, especially those who cover their bodies in them. Couldn't they have just bought a notebook and some colored pencils? These are also the same people who think everyone wants to hear about the latest tattoo, including its backstory, its meaning, the process of getting it, and of course, the inevitable unveiling. I know there are people out there who actually enjoy that whole song and dance, but surprisingly enough, not everyone really gives a damn about how a dragon with a rose dripping with blood clenched in its teeth wound up on your back.

Front Back isn't as glamorous as What You Know, but it's got Bun B tearing it up on there and one of those beats that sticks to your brain. I wore it out, but it's something to check out. At the very least, T.I. seems to have done better with King than his 2003 joint, which was the definition of an album centered around its singles. Just terrible. Agreed on the front he needs to mix it up a bit, subject-wise. His schtick's a bit tired already and you can only have so many hot beats divert people away from your one-dimensional arsenal. Right now he is. He's proven to have more lasting mainstream appeal than Jada, who sorta did his thing with Why? in 2004 and then quietly slipped back off the radar (and rightfully so). I've got a soft spot for Juelz. He may only be getting publicity now, but he's been a guilty pleasure of mine since he was just one of Cam's right-hand men. He's improved lyrically, which doesn't say much, but he's fallen into the same pit T.I. has (one-note topics). It pains me he's gotten most of his attention because of his collab with Chris Brown and that inane whistle song, which I think is his worst single to date.

That would be a fun series to check out. I'm gonna see if some friends wanna make the drive down.

The Chicago/Chicago match-up couldn't come at a worse time.

That's where small ball gets you! I think that's the first triple play I've seen turned as it happened.

That card's actually worth it if you shop there regularly. I wanna say my membership paid for itself two months after I got it.

I'm not worried about Ramirez since he was this bad until late May last year, too. It's still a little unsettling such a key piece of their puzzle is developing a pattern of being ice-cold a third of the season. Cubs also don't have any regulars hitting .300 or above. Unless you count Lee.

Assuming this holds, the Tigers will slide into first place. Crazy. I still don't expect them to stick around.

Make no mistake; Nomar's still a great hitter. It's just the injuries have left him a constant question mark. I give props to Hendry for not re-signing him, even though it's his fault for not getting a suitable replacement. And what a first inning in Minnesota. It was getting comical there for a bit. I think the Twins sorta hit themselves out of that inning, since everyone was going after the first pitch after the string of first-pitch hits.

Especially when your offense has shown an inability to even get runs with no outs. Yeah, give them one less out to work with, tighten the noose and maybe everything will be okay. I'm just wondering why no one's questioning him about his management of the lineup that puts impatient hitters at the very top. That and the overall lack of patience from the majority of the hitters in there. I think when you get shut out five times in the course of two weeks and average around two runs a game, while winning one game in the midst of 12 losses, being aggressive isn't the way to go. There's a difference between being aggresive and being stupid. As Steve Stone said in response to Jacque Jones' claims he's an aggressive baserunner (explaining getting doubled off twice in the span of a couple games), "No, you're not an aggressive baserunner, you're a dumb baserunner." But logic and reality are two no-nos in the bubble that is the North Side of Chicago.

Except Jim Hendry. Evander, why do you think Baker's a good/great manager?

It's funny. Daren Sutton asked for a homer with the pink bat; next pitch and gone.

Two hits, no runs and 91 pitches. That's all the Cubs can muster from CLAY HENSLEY? Pathetic. What an abortion of a team. But I guess that's what you can expect when your 1-2 "punch" are around or below an OBP of .300, Neifi Perez is in your lineup, Matt Murton is batting seventh, and your big boppers aren't doing anything. It's even more annoying to see this staff give up TEN walks. I'm starting to think Rothschild is a problem, too.

Macha better not lift Haren for the ninth. I need a complete game and he's only thrown 90 pitches.

Those Cubs must really love their mothers. They're obviously swinging away at everything so they can get the hell out of there and spend the day with them. They've seen 43 pitches through four innings. Rich Hill, on the other hand, is nearing 80 and like most Cubs pitchers, is handing out walks like Halloween candy.

Scott Rolen's been quoted as saying he loves his mother, but he'll never swing a pink bat and she understands that. Macho Man Scott Rolen: Dig it!