The Baseball Zealot

From the Philadelphia Daily News:

“Bobby Abreu, a superstar in the Latin world and a kinglike figure in
Venezuela, is handling an international scandal
without much angst. His fiancee, former Miss Universe
and Miss Venezuela, Alicia Machado was filmed making nookie
with another man on a TV show in Mexico called ‘La
Granja’. Abreu declined comment on the matter
besides confirming that the relationship is over.”
Not that there would be a whole lot to say anyway.

A few years back I was in Clearwater, Florida watching
the Phillies Spring Training when everything came to a
halt as the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen walked
by. I asked a parking attendant who confirmed it was
Abreu’s girl. Brings to mind the old song, “Never
Make a Pretty Woman Your Wife”.

BJ Upton is doing ok with the stick. In A ball (as of 4/24), he had an 11 game hitting streak going and was batting .343.

No, that’s not the problem.

The problem is that he has 11 errors in 17 games. He’s on pace to commit 99 for the year.

Entering the year, he has committed 100 errors in his first two years in pro years.

Two not-so-good quotes from Wrigleyville:

“It feels good when I’m not throwing and it doesn’t feel good when I’m throwing.”
– Kerry Wood

“I’m still trying to figure out what we’re doing.”
-Ryan Dempster

from The Cub Reporter

Four days ago, I noted in TBZ that Twins pitchers have allowed only 41 walks in 28 games. Today there is an article in ESPN about the Twins’ pitchers’ pinpoint control.

Check it out.

Word has it that a shipment of 47,000 Yankees caps was hijacked. The caps were meant to be given away as a promo last weekend.

Yes, the Cubs won today. Carlos Zambrano pitched a complete game to defeat the Phillies 2-1.

Funny thing about complete games, they don’t involve the bullpen, do they?

All thoughout this winless streak of the Cubs, I had this thought in the back of my head.

What if Dusty Baker, pitch counts be damned, decided to leave a starter who’s pitching well in the whole game and just see what would happen?

Maybe they might win.

As it was, Carlos had a pretty low pitch count for the whole game but maybe Dusty can take a lesson from this.

Go Cubs!

For those with a few bucks to spare, MLB and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are auctioning a chance to attend a May 27th Rays game in luxury seating and meet Don Zimmer and talk to him. According to MLB’s web site, this is what you get:

Package includes 2 exclusive Platinum Club Tickets to the Rays vs. Mariners game on May 27, where you will enjoy Luxury seating on the suite level, an all-you-can buffet, and unlimited bar service. Also, you and a guest will receive 2 VIP on field passes to watch batting practice before the game and meet Don Zimmer himself. You will have the priceless opportunity to meet and greet a baseball living legend and get an autograph and hear inside stories from his 57 years in baseball.

The proceeds go the Rays of Hope Foundation.