Thursday's first pitch

Leading Off
We feel like Chris Matthews talking about Barack Obama, but we really mean it when we say Pedro made us feel all sorts of tingly.
What we liked: He got through five innings. He threw 64 of 99 pitches for strikes. He struck out five and walked one.
And, this was a pleasant surprise, he hit 92 on the gun in the fifth. His pitches didn't flatten out in the fourth or fifth innings. He battled out of two mini-jams.
What worried us: When he missed, he missed up. It took him 99 pitches to get 15 outs. Getting through the lineup a second time proved to be too much for Pedro.
All that said, it was very exciting to see Pedro pitch in the red pinstripes.

Regional Roundup

• The Phillies will save a lot of money by keeping Jamie Moyer out of the rotation. Jimmy Watch:2-for-4, two runs scored, three driven in, home run, double, walk.


• The Orioles have held fast in negotiations with a second round pick. Now they might lose him. But they'll gain the sixth pick in next year's draft. Sounds to me like they're going to make out like bandits. Then again, they need as much help as they can get.


• The Stephen Strasburg signing will likely go down to the deadline. The Nats are back to their old habits.


• That triple-A team in Pittsburgh was shut out again. That's what happens when you make the Batavia Muckdogs face Major League pitching.

Best of Rest

• The Kid comes through in the clutch.


• Josh Beckett was dominant.


• Kevin Youkilis is a man. He's not appealing his suspension.


• News flash: St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols can hit a bit.


• Down go the Yankees. But they still got the win.


• The Marlins have been hot, but they got toasted Wednesday.


• You don't pay Joe Torre for how he manages when the team is on a tear, you pay him for how he manages when it can't buy a win.

Batter's Eye

• The Brew Crew is going through a shakeup. J.J. Hardy - .229, 11 home runs - might be on his way to Boston. Bill Hall - .201, 6 - just got cut.
They fired the pitching coach.
Looks like a panic move, but it isn't each decision has logic, but there's a history here. Last season, the Brewers made a similar move, canning their manager.
They went on to win the Wild Card.

Today in history
1978 -- The Baltimore Orioles benefited from the rain-out rule. The Orioles were leading New York 3-0 after six innings but the Yankees scored five runs in the top half of the seventh. Heavy rains ended the game in the bottom half of the inning and the score was reverted to the end of the last completed frame giving the Orioles the triumph. This rule was changed in 1980.

1979 -- St. Louis' Lou Brock reached the 3,000-hit plateau with an infield hit off Chicago Cubs pitcher Dennis Lamp. St. Louis won the game 3-2.

The Closer
Brian Roberts has quietly put together a fantastic season. If he were playing on a contender he'd be an MVP candidate.
If he keeps up his pace, he will finish the season with 116 runs scored, 57 doubles, 13 home runs, 33 stolen bases and a .794 OPS.
Can't argue wit those numbers.
The little man is going to turn 32 this off-season, so if he's going to be on a winning team, he'd better hope the O's continue to make strides next season.