EVIL~! alkeiper

Sometimes it's amazing how the most extraordinary events of an evening get ignored. Today's XM update stated that the Twins beat the Royals 9-8, thanks to Justin Morneau's go-ahead home run in the tenth. That fails to mention that the Royals were up 8-3 with two outs in the ninth, on their way to snapping a nine-game losing streak. Joe Posnanski expresses it better than I could. http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/28...efore-the-pain/

Pedro Martinez pitched well for class A St. Lucie last night, two runs over six innings with 6 Ks. He lost thanks to David Price's outing, six scoreless innings, two hits, nine K's. Price is now 2-0 with no runs allowed in 11 innings, 13 K's and one walk. St. Lucie is a bad team, so it might have just been an easy opponent for Price. Still, it looks like Tampa Bay has another top flight pitcher on the way. On the subject of St. Lucie, the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs started 3-24 but have a winning record this month. St. Lucie is now 11-41. They are in last place (sixth), and are 13 games back of the FIFTH place team. Their ERA is a full run worse than any team in the league, and the Florida State League is a pitchers' league at that. Just an awful bunch.

First pick? Wow, this is a bit of a pressure spot. I feel like I am bound to overlook something incredibly obvious. I'm going to take the safe route. Rick Steamboat vs. Ric Flair - Clash of the Champions (April 2, 1989)

That weather is perfect as it is. It got up to high 70s/low 80s here over the weekend and I was sweating my balls off. I was much more comfortable when it was mid-50s and I brought a sweatshirt.

A few weeks ago, Czech inquired whether met fans were satisfied with Beltran's performance. I present center fielders from 2005-08, sorted by OPS+. http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/NNub The second best center fielder in MLB and the best in the National League, by a clear margin. He's not unworldly dominant. But when you have the best player at that position, you can't be too unhappy about things.

I'm pleasantly surprised that SNME is the full show and not just the Bulldog/Michaels match.

Here's what I don't understand. The Yankees have a nice bullpen setup with Chamberlain leading to Rivera. They are also under .500. Doesn't that put the importance of relief pitchers into perspective? I'm sorry, but a guy pitching the eighth inning only when his team is ahead is not as important as nine position starters or any of your starting pitchers. The Yankees were only in the game because they scored eight runs. Had they a reliable starter who throws a quality start (three runs, six innings), they win that game easily.

Honestly, the way AWA was going their booking was the least of their problems. It went far deeper than that.

They finished the inning. What a travesty.

I'm surprised Joe Girardi didn't get himself tossed.

Grounds crew is poised behind the tarp in Baltimore. Philly just hit a rain delay, probably the same storm system. Should not last too long, but the storms are fairly strong.

The Rockies and their fanbase. The Rockies are so decimated by injuries, it's hard to blame them much for their recent failures. Few teams can survive the loss of guys like Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe all at once.

I'm surprised it's not mentioned (or just not often) that Ted DiBiase Jr. is actually a THIRD generation wrestler. Both his grandfather and grandmother were professional wrestlers.

I know. It's just frustrating to miss something because I worked that day and wasn't at my computer at noon on a weekday.

Hmm? That 7-1 game going on? Yeah. Embarrassing to whom though? That's my question.

If you want to run down pitchers for giving up runs, you're probably getting too emotionally invested in your sports.

Hmm?

I flipped to ESPN. Derrek Lee worked a 2-2 count and then flied out to right field. Between Erin Andrews' sideline reporting and the announcing, the commentators failed to mention any of it. Do Berman and Sutcliffe realize that they have a job to do besides have a casual conversation on-screen?

I'll jump in. I'm a bit miffed the signup for the wrestlers draft lasted less than six hours.

It's not summer yet. This is why the season needs to start in mid-June, right Czech? Harry Kalas for some reason identified Willy Taveras as "Rickie Weeks." That's pretty embarrassing. The Phils are up 7-0. They need two more runs to tie a 108 year old record for runs scored over a three game stretch. The Phils scored 20 off the Rockies last night so their bullpen is already toast.

The odd man out in Cincinnati is Scott Hatteberg. For the Dusty Baker haters, at least give fair credit that Joey Votto was allowed to win the job at first base. This is going to be an interesting rookie of the year race in the NL. Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Clayton Kershaw and others. Evenings like tonight are fun. I've got a choice between Rockies/Phillies, Yankees/Orioles, Marlins/Mets, Dodgers/Cubs and Indianapolis/Lehigh Valley. That's without an extra innings package.

Rob Neyer in his latest column repeats a point made by a few people online. Over their last 162 games, the Mets have a losing record (79-83). Currently the Mets are ninth in the league in runs scored, sixth in runs allowed. Looking over their club, the biggest problems on offense seem to be lack of production in left field, first base and the bench. Calling up Val Pascucci from New Orleans seems like an obvious move, he's a big right handed power hitter who can fill in all three roles. Here is the entire NL East over their last 162 games. Phillies 92-70 Braves 83-79 Mets 79-83 Marlins 78-84 Nationals 74-88 The Florida Marlins are 30-20, still first in the division. Not to discount them, but they beat up on the Nationals and Brewers (13-2 against those two clubs). They have yet to face the Phillies at all this season. The Marlins really need to play the class of the league before I buy into it.

I really need to take advantage of having ESPNU this year. As usual, I'll root for a local upset, in this case Bucknell U.

Yeah, Reed and the Gang, with Don Muraco making the save and cementing his face turn. Graham made wrestling appearances up for about two more weeks on house shows.

The signing. I can't hold a lack of talent against Patterson, I've lustily cheered lesser players in AAA. With his talent level well established though, the Reds not only gave him a pile of money, they made him the leadoff hitter when several better options existed. If a team gave Patterson a reserve role, he would be a useful player.