Off-Day MLB Miscellany

[Frayed Knot]

Tampa completed a sweep of Florida this afternoon with a Matt Garza one-hitter (leadoff HR in the 7th by Hanley Ramirez) which puts their record at 47-31.
That's a 98 win pace they're on for a team with a bunch of young offensive stars and a front 3 of Kazmir, Shields & Garza. There are also rumblings that they'll be players in any potential Sabathia trade - even if just for a rental - and they've got the farm system to do it and still not sacrafice their entire future. Oh yeah, and they have the last two #1 overall picks just starting out in their system.
Not so sure that those MFY fans who are convinced that history dictates a future of Tampa forever looking up at them should be writing these guys off quite yet. Plus, I know of at least one team who turned in a 100-win season despite never having before won more than 70 so it can be done.


If you're one who believes in signs of destiny you should file this one under the heading of 'Maybe it IS finally the Cubs year'
They deal for the 'get out the jam cuz he's toast' Jim Edmonds on account of Soriano getting hurt. So while he was with SD, Edmonds is 16 for 90 for 3 extra base hits (.178/.265/.233) including 1 HR and 6 RBI
Now, after 82 ABs for Chicago, he has 25 hits, 13 of which are for extras
(.305/.376/.622) including 6 HRs and 21 RBI
Dude hasn't had a good year since 2004 and he's suddenly reborn at age 38 in a stadium where they used to boo him for being a hated Cardinal


Pujols returned from the DL today after about a month ... 4-for-4 including a game-tying RBI in the 9th.
Cards lost in the 10th anyway


Twins just won their 9th straight and are just � game out of 1st.
Two ways to look at that:
1) Stay there Johan we're fine without you?
2) They could be solidly in 1st if only they held onto Johan.


AL is kicking the NL's tail in interleague play for the 4th straight year.
The record is now 122 to 83 after the AL went 6-0 in Thursday's day games and this season looks like it'll run neck-and-neck with 2006 for the most lopsided edge in the 12 years of interleague play.

[Guest AG/DC]

Well, cleon would remind us that they're only so close to first because they got Carlos Lopez in the Santana trade.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And the Athletics beat the Phillies this afternoon.

The Phillies are pissing away their lead. The Mets really need take better advantage of this.

[Guest Kong76]

Why throw chum into the waters, AG?

[Guest AG/DC]

'Cause I'm being an internet stooge, I guess --- trying to force the issue one way or another.

[Guest Kong76]

Just asking, one stooge to another, and all.

Off days blow sometimes. I tried to watch the beginning of the Yankee game
and Michael freakin' Kay has such a man crush on Jeter it's just sickening so
there's no way anyone could sit through it.

And the birthday boy is on deck, and the birthday boy swings and misses, and
the birthday boy ...

[Fman99]

I listened to a few innings of Edinson Volquez, wunderkind Cincinatti pitcher, getting knocked around in Toronto.

For those of you who haven't seen him pitch on TV, he is a Pedro knockoff if ever there was one. Which is a good thing.