A FEW PONDERINGS

All the "experts" say the Yanks went out and plugged all their holes. Maybe they did, but they still have a problem no one has solved yet. It's a lineup of streak hitters. When they can put rallies together, they're unbeatable, but too often they seem to face pitchers who shut them down. Damon and Abreu are the only ones who come thru when it's needed. Jeter likes to ground to 2nd (sometimes into DPs), A-Rod appears easy to fool when he's not "just missing" pitches over the plate, Cano was scary for a while (not any more) and Giambi looks helpless. Until they all get more consistent the Yanks are going nowhere.

So LA Dodgers are the big winners? How soon before Manny becomes Manny in LA-LA Land? How does Torre juggle 5 outfielders without a DH position before somebody becomes unhappy (Hope it isn't Manny)? Bottom line: NO THANKS! I think Boston did just great. Jason Bay's numbers are very close to Manny's and Jason hustles. Francona is smiling again, and I'm happy for him.

What happened to the umpires this year? They blew the call on a few homers, they're missing calls on the bases, the pitch calling is as rotten and inconsistent as ever, and they are throwing guys out of games like they get a commission. They follow people around to either precipitate arguments or prolong them. Now if a batter gets hit, they toss the pitcher regardless of the situation. Even announcers, those paragons of baseball acumen, are saying the umpires have no feel or understanding of the ebb & flow of the game. One ump blows an HBP call, saying it was a bunt attempt (how can you attempt a bunt when you're jumping out of the way of a pitch thrown at your legs?), starting a minor riot in Minnesota. Another ump misses a call at home plate on I-Rod that was ridiculous. Joe West felt the need to threaten a pitcher with a stopwatch 'cause "he wasn't pitching fast enough". Joe: just take care of second base...oh, and lose some weight. Maybe someone should bring a stopwatch to the dinner table for you.

I say again, guys: Shut up and do your job. You can't be disrespected because you're supposed to be invisible. Nobody came to the park to see you.