Monday's first pitch

Leading Off
John Lackey returns to the mound tonight. As a West coast guy, he doesn't get much pub out here, but his is the kid who started Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and has put together a solid career that includes a trip to the Mid-Summer Classic.
In 2005, Lackey went 14-5 with a 3.44 ERA. The right-hander had a career-year when he won 19 games and led the league with a 3.01 ERA in 2007. Last season, he had a .706 winning percentage.
If the Angels are going to win the division and make a move in the playoffs they need Lackey to get healthy and remain healthy
Regional Roundup
The Phils beat up on the Nats.

• The Phightins have won four straight, which isn't as impressive when you consider it was all against the Nationals. Boss Charlie isn't too pleased with Chan Ho "This pitch is getting launched out of the" Park.


• Kansas City might not be in first place anymore, but they played the O's as if they were. Adam Jones is expected to return Tuesday.


• The Nats are fed up with their starters. They're bringing up prospect Ross Detwiler from Double-A Harrisburg.


• The Nats will continue their road trip through the Keystone State and face the Pirates today. The Buccos are coming off of a solid win..

Best of the Rest

• Prince Fielder is carrying the Brewers right now. The big bopper has four home runs in his last five games, all Milwaukee wins.


• Johnny Damon's long fly gave the Yankees a win.


• The Boston Globe has a great graphic about Big Papi's homerless drought


• The Seattle Times takes a look at Don Wakamatsu's influence on the Mariners.


• Is it too soon to panic in St. Louis?


• Roy Halladay is something special.

Batter's Eye

• In one of the most interesting incidents in recent memory, the Rays batted hurler Andy Sonnanstine third.

Today in history
1929 -- The Brooklyn Dodgers outslugged the Philadelphia Phillies for a 20-16 victory in the first game of a doubleheader. Brooklyn's Babe Herman and Johnny Frederick each had five hits. Frederick scored five times to give him a major league record eight runs in two games. The Phillies won the second game 8-6. The teams combined for a record 50 runs in a doubleheader.

1999 -- Edgar Martinez hit three home runs -- tying a major league record with five homers in two games -- to give the Seattle Mariners a 10-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. He homered twice in the opener of the series.

2004 -- Randy Johnson became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game, retiring all 27 hitters to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Atlanta Braves 2-0. It was the 17th perfect game in major league history and the first since the New York Yankees' David Cone did it against Montreal on July 18, 1999.

The Closer
We always thought David Wells was an idiot, but we still loved him because he pitched so well, was left-handed, and had a respect for the game's history. That's why we enjoyed his riff on A-Rod, Manny and Rog.