June 07
6.09 or 26?
Major League Baseball's All-Star selections were announced yesterday. Biggest shock was possibly the inclusion of Pirates closer Mike Williams. With 24 saves, Williams is currently tied for third in the NL. But zoom in on his stat line and you've got to wonder about his Jose Jimenez-like ERA of 6.09. In this current era or stat overload, it's puzzling how Williams could be chosen.

But give him credit. Williams has succeeded Dante Bichete as THE Most Exciting Player in Baseball. Dante made the ordinary into an ADVENTURE, just the way Williams does. Any other outfielder would have no difficulties catching a flyball, but you always held your breath when it was hit Dante's way. The routine became EXCITING. Same for Williams. The past weekend he came on with a three run lead in the ninth and promptly allowed three baserunners. He still scored the save but made it look more difficult than it had any right to be. He has some skills, but seems to enjoy these harrowing near-giveaways.

Best example of Williams' season was back in May against Arizona. Williams came on with a one-run lead. He promptly gave up a single and walked the next two batters. He then struck out, arguably, the Diamondbacks' best hitter, Luis Gonzalez. A close doubleplay followed and he amazingly escaped the inning and preserved the victory. The box score can't show insane saves like that.

If Brian Giles had not missed roughly one month, he probably would have been the Pirates' sole All-Star representative instead of Williams. Williams will no doubt be the butt of All-Star jokes for the next two weeks, but Major League Baseball if offering a chance to add another Bucco to the National League squad. The "32nd man" online balloting is taking place until midnight Wednesday. Corey Patterson was originally a candidate but had to withdraw due to injury. His replacement was the Bucs' leadoff man and center fielder, Kenny Lofton. Having a respectable, if not spectacular season, Lofton did run up the longest hitting streak in the league this year, at 26 games. Good enough for me. Go ahead and click below to vote Lofton into next Tuesday's game. Together, you, me and your mouse can send another Buc to Chicago. Building relationships..that's what the Fucking Internet is all about.

Vote for Kenny

Red Sox Scouting Department
They are, after all, the Red Sox. Are they aware that they're chasing the Yankees in the AL East? Y'know, the pinstripes.. Babe Ruth.. the Bronx... 26 Championships.. "Today.. (today).. I am.. the luckiest man alive.." THOSE Yankees. I only ask, because I can't figure out why the Red Sox would go out and acquire Byung-Hyun Kim as their closer. The same guy who single-handedly blew games four and five of the 2001 World Series for the Diamondbacks. Those losses weren't cheap ones, either. Kim was beat like a redneck's wife in those games. Beat by, yup, the Yankees. Badly. Anyways, it didn't take long for Kim to contribute to the usual Red Sox woes. Today (July 7), Kim came on to hand the win to the Yankees, again... losing 1-2 in the ninth. I wonder if Kim can hear Ol' Blue Eyes crooning about "Newwww York, Newwwwww Yorrrrrk" when he's alone at night.

About as Subtle as a Rhino
So I'm checking out the Rockies' 2003 team poster: Juan Uribe is seated in the front row, all alone except for the bat boy! Uribe was in manager Clint Hurdle's doghouse during the offseason. Hurdle even equated Uribe to "the puppy who keeps peeing in the corner". Hurdle's the same guy who "motivated" Shawn Chacon by bascially exiling him to Triple A for the last two months of the 2002 season. Hurdle mentioned he was proud of the way he forced Chacon to clean out his locker and walk out of the team's locker room. I'm not complaining about Hurdle's tactics- as Chacon got the message and, if not for an ill-timed injury, would have been the NL's starting pitcher in the All-Star Game.

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