A DAY WITHOUT PICASNER IS LIKE A DAY...

...No, it's not. One more week of counting heads and Vod's favorite whipping boy will be back on a regular basis.

***A-ROD BEATS THE DODGERS***
One sports writer claims that A-Rod always makes himself the center of attention. This time, it's because he pointedly ignored Joe Torre during batting practice and warm-ups, unlike the 'core four,' who greeted Torre warmly (?) around the batting cage. Digging deeper, writer Wallace Matthews wondered why A-Rod didn't go and shake hands with Joe and wouldn't answer any questions about him. Matthews claimed it was A-Rod's way of "stealing the show" from the Dodgers and Torre. Matthews did mention in passing that A-Rod scored both Yankee runs and hit the homer that turned out to be the game winner. Manfully conceded, Matthews. There's a Matthews here in Rochester that you should meet.
One more little comment by him:
Before the game Joe Torre was asked about his fabled serenity in the dugout during a game. "Yeah, I know,'' Torre said. "Early in his career, Jeter was asked how he stays calm out there and he said, "I look into the dugout at Mr. Torre, and he's calm, so I stay calm.' I was probably asleep at the time and he didn't know it.''
Probably a good analysis of Torre's managerial style.

***ANOTHER NO-HITTER***
This one was by Edwin Jackson of the Diamondbacks. Guess the Yanks got out of Arizona just in time. A surprising feat by Jackson, since his career record is 43-45 in 8 seasons. Jackson walked 8 batters while baffling the Tampa Bay Rays, winning the game 1-nil...er, 0 (sorry, too much World Cup on TV). Jackson threw 149 pitches. How many managers would let that happen? As Rob Neyer so aptly put it:
"With the Diamondbacks in last place and Jackson sitting on a 4-6 record, (manager A.J) Hinch didn't throw caution to the wind. He grabbed caution by the neck, spit in its face, and then he strangled it."
Joe Girardi would never do that. Neither would Joe Torre. Just wake him up and ask him.

***HOW ARE THE RED SOX DOING IT?***
Their whole outfield is on the DL, playing poker with Nick Johnson, they may lose their spark plug, Dustin Pedroia, for a couple of days and their pitching staff is a disaster. Yet there they are, only three games back of the team with the best record in baseball. It's gotta be Francona.

Happy Birthday to 3-year-old Sarah!

CP-