John Smolts' new outfit looks awkward; his pitching doesn't.
You have to ask, how would Harry Kallas have called the triple play?
Why Joe Jackson belongs in the Hall of Fame over Pete Rose.
Leading Off
How cool was Eric Bruntlett's double play? Oh wait, that was a triple play. To end the game against The Rivals. The Philadelphia Phillies super sub had already booted one play when he caught a Jeff Francouer line drive and touched everybody near him.
It was only the second time in history a player turned an unassisted triple play to end a game.
You could almost hear how Harry Kallas would have called it.
"Line drive toward center. Bruntlett grabs it. One. He tags the bag. Two. Oh my, he's got Murphy. A trip-OL play. Ball game. Phils win, 9-6, on an amazing triple play."
Somewhere Richie Ashburn turned to his left and said, "Hard to believe, Harry."
Regional Roundup
- Greg Dobbs went on the disabled list. Miguel Cairo will replace him.Jimmy Watch: 1-for-4, double, run, RBI.
- Adam Jones had to leave Sunday's game because of a balky back. The O's enjoyed a rare victory in a series.
- The Pirates' winning streak came to an abrupt end.
- Tom Boswell is wishing on a shooting star.
Best of Rest
- John Smoltz in Cardinals threads just doesn't look right. His pitching did. He struck out nine, walked none during an effective and stingy 75-pitch outing.
- CC Sabathia looked like $100 million against the Red Sox, earning his 15th win and virtually knocking Boston out of the division race.
- The Dodgers' insurmountable lead is shrinking. The pressure seems to be getting to them.
- Dave Krieger says the Rockies have their first ace: Ubaldo Jimenez.
- Drama tends to follow Billy Wagner.
And we're not talking about the bases-loaded, one-out variety.
Wagner is about to be sent from the New York Mets to the Boston Red Sox, but Jonathan Paplebon isn't happy.
Paps is downright territorial about this. He does not want Wagner anywhere near the mound in the ninth inning if the Beaneaters have a lead.
Apparently Paps doesn't realize how that probably shouldn't be a concern.
Wags might still be able to throw heat. But it's doubtful he'll be dominant. He wasn't the last time he closed, in 2007.
Today in history
1940 -- Outfielder Ted Williams pitched the last two innings for the Boston Red Sox against Detroit at Fenway Park. He allowed one run on three hits, but struck out Rudy York on three pitches. The Tigers, behind Tommy Bridges, won 12-1.
1951 -- St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck gave over 1,000 fans behind his dugout YES and NO placards, allowing them to have a part in the strategy of the game. The fans flashed the cards when asked by the coaches what the Browns should do and it worked as St. Louis beat the Philadelphia Athletics 5-3.
1989 -- After six months of denial, defense and delay, Cincinnati manager Pete Rose was banned for life from baseball by Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti for gambling. Rose, baseball's all-time hit leader and holder of 19 major-league records, signed a five-page agreement with Giamatti in which he agreed to a lifetime penalty but did not admit to gambling on baseball.
The Closer
Twenty years later. Pete Rose is still banished.
Mike Schmidt says that's long enough.
The Southpaw has always been conflicted when it comes to this issue.
First, betting on the game is a terrible offense.
However, Rose, more than almost any other player, exemplified how you should play the game.
One thing we are sure of, is that the deal is a lifetime ban.
Same as it was for the Black Sox.
Among those players, Joe Jackson is the only one with the credentials that leave no doubt he should be in Cooperstown.
He's been dead since 1951.
That was 58 years ago.
It's time to open the doors to the man who was never accused of taking part in throwing the 1919 World Series.
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