Wednesday's first pitch

Leading Off
Fifteen years ago, Major League Baseball went on strike. My how the game has changed.
We've got players making $15-$20 million.
We've got a mid-summer exhibition that decides who will host game seven of the World Series.
We've seen the Florida Marlins win two World Series.
We've also witnessed the Boston Red Sox win a pair of titles as well.
We've had heroes tainted with steroids.
We've had a former slugger write tell-all books and been parodied by the elites in the game. Only to have the former slugger be proven right at almost every turn.
Pete Rose is still not in the Hall of Fame.
Tony Gwynn never reached .400.
However, Barry Bonds passed the Hammer.
But the main thing is this: Our innocence might never return.

Regional Roundup

• Jamie Moyer blew off some steam Tuesday. Pedro Martinez makes his return tonight. Ben Francisco gave the Phillies a bit of a lift. Jimmy Watch: 1-for5, 2-run home run.


• David Hernandez looked real good for the Orioles. Is the O's top pick about to walk away? The O's have a very good promotion going with Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.


• The Pirates won. Matt Capps says The Plunk was An Accident.


• Even Tom Boswell can't figure out the Nationals. Washington's streak, however, came to an end.

Best of Rest

• John Heyman says Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo have cleared waivers.


• Brian Burwell says the Cards need to add more pieces.


• The New York Daily News has a list of the 25 best sports movies.


• What's this Joba plan.


• Youk's bum rush sparked the Sox.


• The Florida Marlins are scorching hot right now.

Batter's Eye

• Sports Illustrated has 25 things we miss in baseball.

Today in history
1948 -- In the second game of a doubleheader, the Cleveland Indians beat the St. Louis Browns 26-3 with a 29-hit barrage. The Indians set a major league record as 14 different players hit safely.

1964 -- Mickey Mantle hit home runs left- and right-handed in a 7-3 win over the Chicago White Sox. It was the 10th time in his career and a major league record for switch-hit homers in a game.

1994 -- Major League Baseball players went on strike for the sport's eighth work stoppage since 1972.

The Closer
Call the Southpaw crazy if you will, but I don't think Kevin Youkilis should get suspended.
He got drilled in retaliation of Miguel Cabrera's beaning.
We love pitching inside, however, Cabrera's beaning did not look like it was at all on purpose.
Youkilis' was a purpose pitch. The Greek god of bad goatees has been plunked 10 times.
And most of them do seem to be in retribution.
He was only protecting himself, which we think he has a right to do.