WAITING FOR THE REAL BASEBALL

Another "exhibition" game is behind us, so now we can focus on a baseball game where the object is to win, not showcase your whole roster. The AL used 29 players, 9 of them pitchers, and every position player had at least one at bat. The NL used 31 players, including 10 pitchers and only catcher Miguel Montero was denied a chance to hit.
I read that the NL won, by virtue of having used more play-...excuse me, scored more runs. It's a good thing this game is very important or more stars will beg off.

Mr Perfect, Derek Jeter, is taking quite a hit for not showing up at the game. Okay, maybe he wasn't up to playing (yeah, right!), but the powers that be wanted him there to take a bow on his achievement. As one broadcaster said, he could have rented a private plane on Tuesday, showed up in uniform, took a bow and flew back home. He probably could have BOUGHT a plane and done that.

CC Sabathia has also come under fire for not playing because "he pitched on Sunday." Why him? First of all, he didn't make the rule and he doesn't decide when he's pitching. Secondly, what about Matt Cain or Justin Verlander or Cole Hamels? They weren't playing either because they also pitched on Sunday, but I haven't heard anything about them. Next, we'll probably hear that A-Rod should have gotten off the operating table and caught a ride with Jeter to Phoenix. Why not? They probably would have only made him play one inning.

***FIRST HALF SURPRISES***
Cleveland is still fighting for first place even though they're only 5 games over .500. Of course the AL Central is notoriously weak.
Somehow, Boston is still in first place with a pitching staff that doesn't need a catcher, they need a medical staff.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 4 games over .500 and only one game out of first. One reason we like to go to Pittsburgh to see a game, is you can buy your seats on game day and still have a chance to sit where you please. Not anymore; they just had a crowd of over 37,000 fans.
Bartolo Colon is throwing 94-95 miles per hour and Phil Hughes is not.

***THEY SAID IT***
"A jury has been seated in the Roger Clemens trial. I’m not sure jurors grasp the seriousness of the matter, during open arguments they were doing the wave.
"Today in women’s World Cup, the U.S. plays France. Let’s hope the French women don’t get desperate and resort to the old "hidden ball in the armpit hair" trick." --Brad Dickson
{They didn't and the USA won 3-1. Hurray Abby Wambach! --Picasner}
"Police in Florida say a man who had his boxer shorts set on fire claims his landlord did it because he hadn't paid his rent. When reached for comment, his landlord said, 'Liar! Liar!'" --RJ Currie
Q: How can you tell it's seventh-inning stretch time at a Mariners game?
A: The fans sing, "For it's 1, 2, 3 balls you're on ... " --Dwight Perry

CP-