Saturday, August 13, 2011

ONE PROBLEM - TWO RESPONSES

***THE PROBLEM***
A pitcher facing a decent hitting club gives up 5 home runs in one game. This is not something you expect out of your top-of-the-line starter, so you watch to see how he responds.


***THE RESPONSES***
CC Sabathia gave up 5 solo shots in a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. His response was to fire a 97 MPH fastball past friend and former teammate, Kelly Shoppach, with a grim look on his face.

Carlos Zambrano reacted differently. He fired a fastball too close to Chipper Jones and got ejected for it. He wasn't done, though. He went into the clubhouse, cleaned out his locker and told everyone within earshot that he was retiring. Cy Young awards are unpredictable, but you have to think this will cost Carlos a few votes. Not to mention the remaining $24 million on his contract that he leaves on the table. The Yanks should have picked him up when they had the chance. This kind of tantrum would take a lot of pressure off A-Rod and his gambling problem.


***SPEAKING OF A-ROD***
Since there was nothing to cheer about in the NY/Tampa game for Yankee fans, the YES network gave at-bat updates on A-Rod's first Single-A rehab game down in Florida, even showing a replay of his home run. George Steinbrenner would be proud.


***OTHER NEWS***
The SF Giants are now two games out of first, losing the first game of a 3-game series with the last place Florida Marlins, 2-1. Considering the Giants hitting, I could probably have just given you the score and let you figure out the winner. The hitless wonders are on a pace to score 555 runs for the season, a mark 4 other teams have already passed with some 40 games left. Carlos Beltran hasn't played in four games and may be heading to the DL.
The first place Arizona Diamonbacks won behind former Yankee, Ian Kennedy, who is now 15-3.
Dan Uggla went 3 for 3 against the Cubs, running his hit streak to 32 games.
The Yankees will be choosing between Phil Hughes and AJ Burnett for the last spot in the rotation this weekend. Hughes has tons of talent and potential, Burnett has tons of money left on his contract. One of them goes to the bullpen. THIS will be interesting, especially if Hughes pitches well today.

***THEY SAID IT***
The FCC says you will soon be able to send text messages to 911. I'm sure 911 operators can't wait to get texts that say, "Being carjacked, LOL." -- Conan O'Brian
Britain's female beach volleyball champs have reportedly signed a sponsorship deal to have a bookmaker's QR code on the rear of their bikini briefs. Think it'll work? You bet your bottom dollar. -- RJ Currie
"The back of a bus in Shaoyang, China, crashed to the ground when a bump in the road caused the wheels to fall off. Raise your hand if you just thought of the Seattle Mariners' pennant hopes." -- RJ Currie
"Been a tough year for the NY Yankees, lost all 4 series vs the Red Sox. So today S&P downgraded the Yankees to the Mets" -- Jimmy Fallon
"The Pittsburgh Pirates had lost ten games in a row before beating the Giants Monday night. Maybe the only way to turn the stock market skid around is to send in the San Francisco Giants." -- Janice Hough
The Colorado Rockies lost 3-2 to the Nationals last Sunday, extending their losing streak to 16 in games played on that day of the week. Instead of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" at Coors Field, shouldn't they be playing "Never on Sunday"? -- Dwight Perry

CP-

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