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That's it.
Now that Tim Lincecum has won the Cy Young award despite having just 15 wins, baseball fans are up in arms.
Either they believe it's an injustice that a pitcher could win the award without winning 20 games or it's an injustice because people still consider wins an important stat.
The rhetoric is getting as heated as the health care debate.
And I've had it.
The problem is these people not getting the point. And they're doing themselves and the game an injustice.
Wins are still a very valuable statistic. It's just one that has evolved over the years.
But more on that later.
What's most important is that we discuss the relevence of the big numbers (20 wins in a season, 500 home runs or 3,000 hits).
These are numbers that are benchmarks.
But, somewhere along the line their true meaning has been lost. We began thinking a pitcher needed 20 wins to be successful or that a slugger needed 500 home runs to reach the Hall of Fame.
Don't fear.
The Southpaw is going to straighten you out.
Let's start with 20 wins.

Mike Scioscia can calm down now. He's manager of the year. But you know he'd trade that award for the pennant or the Commissioner's trophy.
Bud Selig is making the right call. And no, that wasn't a misprint.
The voters got the manager of the year awards right.

An underdog Yankee. Yep.

And guess who might be heading to Cuba?

From the AP:

NEW YORK -- That travel team back in Virginia a decade ago must have played great defense on the left side of the infield.

Ryan Zimmerman succeeded boyhood friend David Wright as the National League's Gold Glove third baseman on Wednesday. In high school, when Zimmerman was a shortstop, the two played together on a youth team.

The best news so far this offseason: Tim Wakefield will be back in 2010.
The hot stove league is heating up.
The Red Sox are making moves. The Yankees are planning theirs.
There's a hole at third in Philly.
And, because we can: Yo, Adrian.

The biggest baseball news this weekend was the Twins acquiring JJ Hardy from Milwaukee.
But there was a lot of big news.
Check inside to find out why one New York columnist thinks the Yankees are about to cut payroll; why Joe Torre might really love L.A. enough to stay; who might be a good fit for the Orioles and why the Phillies serenaded a World Series hero with a Sting song.

New York Yankees fans hope Game 5 was just a blip on the radar.
Philadelphia Phillies fans hope that blip was the unnoticed warning of a coming attack.

The Yankees prevailed on Halloween to take a 2-1 World Series win, but the Phillies will try to even it up at home with Joe Blanton on the mound.

Tweet your Series thoughts with the hashtag #yorksouthpaw. They'll show up here, and we'll include them in Pat Abdalla's chat later tonight.

Every year, it seams, we're told we're going to have a great World Series.
We're usually disappointed.
So, we here at The Southpaw have decided to preview each individual game.
Let's start with Game 1, which looks like it could be a great pitching matchup.
You know the names: New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia is going up against the Philadelphia Phillies' southpaw Cliff Lee.
You also know the background: Both have Cy Young Awards in their back pockets.
Both were teammates on the Cleveland Indians last May. You know the last time the Phillies faced CC Sabathia in the postseason Shane Victorino slayed the dragon with a grand slam. You know the last time the Phillies played the Bronx Bombers, the boys from New York swept the Phillies aside.
Now, here's what you don't know.

Eric Bruntlett might be the best "throw-in" in Phillies' history.

Hal Bodley says these are the glory days.

Lee Jenkins wonders what happens if the Phillies do the unthinkable.

Ted Keith says the Phillies didn't celebrate like you thought they would. They treated the pennant like it was just another step toward where they want to go.

Rich Hofman shields his eyes from the glow of Ryan Howard's awesomeness.

Bill Lyon takes you on a trip through a glorious night.

Tom Boswell says these players are Charlie's boys.

Jayson Stark says the Phillies are as much about erasing history as they are making it.

Gene Wojciechowski says the Phillies are the team you need to root for.

Three years ago, as a sports writer for The Evening Sun in Hanover, I was able to attend my first NFL game, a Baltimore Ravens-San Diego Chargers match-up.
I'll be honest, I was pretty excited to see Ladainian Tomlinson in person. However, sports writers aren't supposed to be fans. We're supposed to be professional and I've got no complaints about that.
I remember walking down to the field, where the media can go for the game's final minutes, and seeing the television reporters openly cheering the Ravens on to victory. One guy went so far as to hop up and down. Even the Ravens cheerleaders smirked.
The wrinkled, snarly reporters, including yours truly, shook their heads.
That's not what your supposed to do. Even if, deep down inside, you're pulling for one team.
That's the balance sports writers have to strike: They need to be professional, but they also need to be the voice of the fan.
And writers are most fun to read when they write like a fan.
If you read Phil Sheridan's story from the Phillies' 2008 World Series victory, you would have had chills. The same goes for Bill Lyon's column from when the Phillies rallied past the Mets in 2007.
That's why Mitch Albom, Bill Plaschke and Tom Boswell are such a joy to find in the morning's paper.
You want tears, look up Dan Shaughnessy's coverage from the Red Sox 2004 run.
Of course, we don't know what those guys looked like, way up in the press box when the team's they covered won.
I doubt they pumped their fists and high-fived.
We do however, know how Ricky Bottalico, Darren Daulton, and Michael Barkann reacted to the Phillies' NLCS Game 4 victory over the Dodgers Monday night.
And it's priceless.
Bottalico isn't someone we expect to react like that.
He spent 12 years in the Major Leagues and pitched in 524 games. He was an All-Star who owns 116 career saves and a 3.99 ERA.
But Ricky Bo looked like a fan.
Not like someone who didn't know what it was like to have to answer questions from the media after blowing a save. Not like someone who went through the dregs of salary arbitration or signed autographs till his hands ached.
Bottalico looked like the guy who could be next to you at the bar or on the school bus in the morning who's so excited to talk about Tim Lincecum's 14 strikeouts the night before.
He looked more like the kid who sat the bench through four years of high school than the kid who made it to The Bigs.
So it was really refreshing to see Ricky Bo's reaction.

Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies are one win away from reaching the World Series for a second straight season. If the make it to the Fall Classic, they will be the first National League team since the 1995-1996 Braves to do so in consecutive seasons.
The responsible thing, work-wise, was to go to bed.
The responsible thing, fan-wise, was to fight the yawns stay by your team's side.
The compromise was to crash on the couch and catch a couple winks between innings and hope to wake up when memorable things happened.
The last thing the Southpaw remembers is Jayson Werth's lazy fly ball in the eighth inning.
Then there were dreams of dancing Phillies in his head.

If the Philadelphia Phillies reach the World Series this year, which they are just two wins away from doing, they will join select company.
You see, the Phillies would not only be the rare team to reach the Fall Classic in back-to-back seasons, but they would be doing so without ever having won 95 games in either seasons.
In all of baseball history there have been just three teams that have reached the Series in consecutive seasons while never winning 95 games in either.
Charlie Finley's Oakland Athletics won 93, 94 and 90 games but earned trips each year from 1972 to 1974.
John McGraw's New York Giants won 94 and 91 games while reaching the World Series in 1921 and '22.
Then there were Ty Cobb and his Tigers in 1907-08. They won 92 and 90 games respectively.
However, history bodes well for the Phils.
The Athletics and Giants won all of the series they played in even though the Tigers did not.

Nearly lost in the joy of winning the National League East Wednesday night was the news of Jamie Moyer's season-ending injury.
At his age, and with his early season struggles, it's not hard to imagine that the veteran southpaw has thrown his last Major League pitch.
But he shouldn't be without a job.
More appropriately, he shouldn't be without a job with his hometown team, The Philadelphia Phillies.
It just so happens the Phillies have an opening. ...

Who would have ever thought they'd see Pedro Martinez in a Phillies jersey? Or that he'd be helping the Phillies win their third straight division title?
The Phillies clinch.
Streaks continue.
Promises for October.

For just the second time in history, the Philadelphia Phillies will play in the post season for three straight season.
The Phillies clinched their playoff berth with Brad Lidge on the mound preserving a 10-3 win that was sparked by a big night from Jimmy Rollins.
That's how the blueprint was penciled in.
Phillies fans, however, know the season didn't go exactly the way it was planned for two of the team's biggest stars.
But now, those players can look forward to their second season.

No, Scott Feldman is not doing his Curt Schilling impersonation. However, he's had a long season. But when he reflects on his 3.90 ERA and 17 wins, he'll feel much better.
This doubleheader was tighter than John Madden in a London phone booth.
The Great Fold of 09 continues in Baltimore.
Two teams are one win away.

Roma Downey and Clarence are headed to the playoffs.
It's time to hit the panic button.

We don't know what happened here. We just know it was bad. But that's been the case all season long for the Kansas City Royals who are not named Zack Greinke.
The Nats can get better. Really they can.
Who's going to close for the Phillies?

Bobby Cox makes an announcement.
Are teams going to find out they payed too much?
A quick rundown of the playoff races.

The Onion makes us laugh at the Yankees.
Zack Grienke is really good and finishing strongly.
Oh and aren't the Phillies glad they didn't sign Soriano?

On this date in 1914 the New York Yankees hired Roger Peckinpaugh as their new manager.
What's destinctive about that, you ask.
Mr. Peckinpaugh was 23 years old. Yep, he was younger than Cole Hamels.
Also on that date in history, Joe Paterno had his runningback go straight up the middle.

Phillies fans know heartbreak.
There was Black Friday. There was Joe Carter. There was the Marlins shooting past them in 2003.
There was Brad Lidge's 2009 season.
Now, this poor guy has to deal with just as bad.
First, he catches a foul ball, making an amazing play.
Then he hands the ball to who we must assume to be his daughter.
And what happens next must have come in slow motion for him. We're talking NFL Films slow motion.

That's right, the MLB schedule for the 2010 season has been set.
Check the jump for the highlights.

Tim Lincecum looks like he belongs in a pre-teen boy band. Don't tell that to the 11 batters he whiffed Monday.

The National League Cy Young race moves in The Freak's direction.
Mariano Rivera has 40 saves in a season for the first time since 2005. Amazingly, 11 pitchers have reached the 40 save barrier at least once in a season since then. Who are they?
You want magic numbers. We've got magic numbers.

No. 23 could be returning to helm Chicago's ball club. No, not that No. 23. We're talking about the one with class.
The playoff races are coming to a close.

The Florida Marlins could real in a big catch - The Philadelphia Phillies.
The Fish are biting.
The Angels are primed and ready.
And The Southpaw doesn't lie

Chuck Norris is scared.
Ten stories to watch.
The trouble with Chris Carpenter's career.

A six man rotation. You've got to be kidding? Or stupid.
Seriously, somebody better buy me this shirt for Christmas.

Eighty-two years ago today, Grover Cleveland Alexander pitched two complete game shutouts in a double-header. If there are two complete games tonight, The Southpaw will wear a Mets shirt over the weekend.
The Braves and Twins playoff hopes just dimmed. No, actually, the lights were turned off.

Tim Hudson had perfect form in his return to The Bigs. It would be good for baseball if the proud owner of 147 wins could return to his old self.

The Phillies have aces wild, which is better than Wild Aces.
Rereading the Scott Kazmir trade.

Of the region's four teams - Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington - two have winning records when playing at home.
The World Champions have a 34-30 record at Citizens Bank Park.
Which other Mid-Atlantic team has a winning home record.

The Dodgers make some moves.
The Braves make a move.
Ryan Howard's in a groove.

We have proof that there is a god, that god loves us and that god loves baseball.
Need we tell you anything else?

The Building Block, Andrew McCutchen, is flying high.
Brad Lidge has angered the Gods.
Two area teams suffer stinging losses. The Pirates, however, had their best win of the season.

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Jay Marshall throws from way down low.
Why baseball shouldn't even come close to contracting.
We admit we were wrong.
And a late-summer reading list.

I found this out online this morning and am amazed.
Apparently, the Curse of the Billy Goat hasn't just affected the Chicago Cubs, who haven't won a World Series since 1908.
According to legend, it all begins in 1945, the last time the Fuzzies made it to the Fall Classic.
Freelance journalist Ron Berler discovered that - with three exceptions - every team who has made the World Series with three or more ex-Cubs on its roster has lost.
Sometimes in shocking fashion.
Consider the 1990 Oakland Athletics, which had closer Dennis Eckersley, starting pitcher Scott Sanderson and backup catcher Ron Hassey on its roster.
The team was heavily favored against the Cincinnati Reds.
But it got swept.
The three teams that beat the factor were the 1960 Pirates, the 2001 Diamondbacks - with Mark Grace, Luis Gonzalez and Mike Morgan - and the 2008 Phillies.

It was a night of grand slams for Russell Martin, Brian Roberts and Brendan Ryan.
For once, Brett Myers didn't get slammed.
And Derek Jeter is not the MVP.

The Dodgers didn't dodge the Padilla bullet.
The Phillies are in love with Cliff Lee.

Today's most shocking news, Christian Slater is 40.
Which makes Jamie Moyer seem not so old. Speaking of the veteran Southpaw, he dominated Monday.
Cole Hamels had better watch out. His rotation spot might be in jeopardy.

Colby Rasmus tosses his helmet as he races home after walking off a win for the St. Louis Cardinals.
We've got a more believable story about Brett Myers' black eye.
Ryan Howard's heating up.
We hope David Wright is healing.

How a bout them pitchers?
Cliff Lee was dominant, Bronson Arroyo pitched the game of his life and Justin Verlander couldn't be stopped.

The strike, 15 years later.
Kevin Youkilis strikes back.
The Phillies strike late.

The last time Ryan Howard manhandled teammates was when the Phillies became World Champs. On Sunday, he and Paul Bako had to get control of Shane Victorino, who went insane Sunday.
The Yankees are dominating the Red Sox again.
Shane goes insane.
And what's up with David Ortiz?

Sure the Nationals are irrelevant and the Phillies have a big lead, plus Cliff Lee.
However, if history repeats itself, big leads don't matter in the NL East.

Andre Ethier is clutch. Three walk-off home runs this season. Five walk-off hits. Word on the street has it he single-handedly saved Cash for Clunkers.
Break up the Yankees.
And while you're at it, the Nats too.

It can't be true. But it is. The Nationals have a four game winning streak.
And a New York scribe says the Yanks broadcasters had better watch what they say about David Ortiz.

A
Tampa Bay Rays players are about to pounce on Evan Longoria, who's about to bounce on home plate. Did the rays just win a game that could kickstart a late season push for the wild card?
Apologies all around about Tuesday's first pitch. It was a very busy day in the newsroom and by 12 p.m. I realize, "Hey, I never got to The First Pitch."
So here's a doubly good effort today.
Hank Aaron wants names. And Pete Rose to be reinstated.

Brad Bergesen was pitching well. Then he got drilled.
And what does Doyle Lonnegan have to do with David Ortiz?
Why we're sick of Barry Bonds' defenders.

Delwyn Young makes an unbelievable catch.
The Keystone State squads made some trades. The Philadelphia Phillies looked to add an ace, the Pittsburgh Pirates continues to be a disgrace.
Heralded Baltimore Orioles rookie Chris Tillman made an erratic but promising debut.

Don't overreact.
Don't overreact? Are you kidding me? The Philadelphia Phillies are World Champs - a phrase we're still joyiously getting used to - and they just picked up the reigning American League Cy Young winner.
Don't overreact. He's not Roy Halladay.
That's true, he's younger and cheaper. But he did win 20 games last year.
Yeah, and he's 7-9 this season.
Big woop, he could have easily won 10 to 12. He's got a 3.14 ERA this year and leads the American League in innings pitched.
Boy, you're excited.
Of course I'm excited. WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES.
Hey now, simmer down. Wait a minute, did you just use the word "we?" Are you going to pitch for the Phillies?
Sorry about that. Got carried away there. As far as me pitching for the Phillies, well, they seem to be high on southpaws. They do have four left-handed starters now.
Speaking of don't you think that's dangerous? So many lefties. How are they going to contain Manny Ramirez or Alfonso Soriano?
Yeah, I'm concerned about having the reigning AL Cy Young winner, the reigning World Series MVP, a rookie with a 7-1 record, and Jamie Moyer, who's got 10 wins or more for five straight seasons. Plus he's 4-1 with a 3.30 ERA in his last five starts. I don't know how they're going to compete. It's going to be so much tougher now. Seriously, though.
Remember the last time you got this confident? When you thought Freddy Garcia or even Kevin Millwood were going to lead you to the promised land? Where did they take you?
None of those guys joined the Phillies after winning 20 games, let alone the Cy Young. Sure, there's a risk here, but at least the Phillies didn't give up a lot.
Oh no. Just last season you talked about how Jason Donald, Carlos Carrasco and Lou Marsen as being the future of the organization.
Are you kidding me? The future is now. What's Jason Donald, the next Mickey Morandini? At worst, Marsen is the next Mike Lieberthal or Carrasco the Next Brett Myers. Most people are scared Jason Knapp is going to be a staple in the Indians' rotation. But he's at least three years away. By that time Kyle Drabek will be anchoring the rotation and Happ should still be around.
So you're not counting on the Phillies still packaging Happ and Drabek to the Blue Jays for The Good Doctor?

Chris Woodward lays down a sacrifice bunt Tuesday. Who says the American League doesn't play small ball?
This time, Omar gets a public spanking.
Mark Buehrle continues to impress, even in a loss.
The regional teams get set for the trade deadline.

The Southpaw is sorry he was too lazy to put up a first pitch yesterday. Forgive him, it was his first day of vacation.
Now, if you don't mind a quick ode to his favorite fan, check out the rest of today's First Pitch, which includes:
The Phillies going for a 10th win.
Mets officials tried to fight minor leaguers.

The first pitch returns after an enjoyable All-Star break.
Why can't people stop putting Dave Trembley on the hot seat?
Holy cow, Jamie Moyer looked like Randy Johnson. Minus the fastball.

Sure, the home run derby is the Snickers of baseball events, but we love the sugar rush.
Even though Big Mac, Sammy, and so many of the sluggers of recent memory are tinged with steroid allegations, there have been some memorable nights from players who haven't been touched with the dirt of PED's.
We think of Ken Griffey Jr. bashing one off the warehouse at Camden Yards.
Speaking of former stars, we have to talk about the big news story of the day.
According to several reports, Pedro Martinez is on his way to a physical. If he passes it, he will be headed to the World Champions.
If you want to read our thoughts on Pedro joining the Phillies, click here.
Now, back to the sugary goodness.

The Houston Astros have claimed Chris Coste off waivers. The backup catcher has become a folk hero in Philly. This CSN Philly report discusses how the organization never warmed up to him as much as the fans. This Philly Burbs story discusses the number crunch he faced.
There's no doubt Coste's story is a fantastic one, coming up as 33-year-old rookie. We can't help but hope his career continues with success.

So, Joel Hanrahan was the winning pitcher for the Nationals yesterday. Thing is, he pitches for the Pirates. Go figure.

Jamie Moyer is on the hill for the Phillies tonight.
Did you know he has ties to York County? Well, now you do.

Several reports are saying three-time Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez has signed with the Phillies.
However, the general manager says that's not the case.
John Heyman says the answer will come by Sunday.
In other Phillies news, Shane Victorino earned a trip to the All-Star team.
The Detroit TIgers' Brandon Inge is the last player added to the American League.

Andruw Jones, how are ya?
Shane Victorino is pushing to make the All-Star team.

Thinking about a Roy Halladay trade, one that would send him to the Phillies, is like thinking about Santa the night before Christmas.
Trust me, it is.
And how awesome is it that Alan Embree didn't even throw a pitch and he got the win.

Pedro Martinez, who led the Boston Red Sox to the promised land, could be joining the team that occupies that sacred ground.
That's right, the Philadelphia Phillies are inexplicably scouting Pedro Martinez.
Sure, he won thre Cy Young awards. But he won 17 games the previous three seasons.
What's the benefit here?
Sure the staff has trouble, but unles Pedro is willing to pitch out of the pen, he doesn't bring much to the table.
Is he better than Joe Blanton, who the past two years has a lower ERA than Martinez does during the same span? No.
Is he better than Cole Hamels? Historically, yes. Currently, not even close.
Is he better than Jamie Moyer? Not really. They're both maxed out after 5-6 innings. They both will give up home runs.
Is he better than JA Happ? That's a tough question. Happ is young but he has been the Phillies most consistent starter. Since joining the rotation, Happ has gone six innings or more in five of eight starts. Pedro won't do that.
Now, as for the Phillies fifth starter. Pedro might be better than some of the rookies, but if the Phillies are going to contend for a long time, it might be more worth their while to have those young kids get some innings in.

Randy Johnson doesn't look so dominant with the stick.
We've got All-Star news.
Is Mets-Phillies still a rivalry?

The champs play like chumps. The chumps play like champs.

Is someone about to hit .400?
It's certainly not Jimmy Rollins, who might need to take some batting tips from the Arizona pitching staff.

Another tragedy in Anaheim.
How is it possible a night in front of 4 TVs with 4 games could be bad for The Southpaw's health? They had the Nationals, Pirates, Orioles, and Orioles again on.
How is Jose Canseco helping Barry Bonds?

Troy Tulowitzki likes the high ones. Here he blasts a two-run homer on a pitch that's well above the letters.

CC Sabathia has a big test today.
Is David Ortiz cured?

So many players have missed significant amounts of time, however several players are coming back tonight.

1. Grady Sizemore - The Indians are dead last in the American League Central, but Sizemore could have a huge impact. In the last three seasons, the center fielder has finished 11th, 12th and 10th in MVP voting. He averages 27 homers and 27 stolen bases a season. That should provide Cleveland with a major boost.
2. Ryan Howard - While the Big Fella hasn't been on the disabled list, he ended his consecutive games streak while being hospitalized. We all know how big he's been for the Phillies during the past four seasons.
3. Joey Votto is a young thumper for the Reds. Votto is batting .357 this season and bashed 24 homers last year. He's missed time to deal with the death of his father.

Watch where you walk. You could trip over a Phillies pitcher. They're dropping like flies.
Somebody's about to lose an eye in the Yankees broadcast booth.
It's the anniversary of the Ryne Sandburg Game.

The Orioles completed a sweep of the Phillies.
John Gonzalez takes on The Herd.
And CC says Seeya in the second.

The Yanks are eyeing Pedro Martinez.
Patience is big right now in the Mid-Atlantic region.
And Trey Hillman says, "Be a man." And no, he's not talking to Chastity Bono.

John Lackey got a season-high 10 whiffs.

Bill James and Joe Posnanski take a ride on the Ryan Express to attack pitch counts.
Tom Gordon's best pitch for the World Champs didn't come from the mound. But Ryan Madson took it.
The Rockies are dominating.

Who was fighting in the outfield?
Yorvit Torrealba speaks out about his son's kidnapping.
And how come no one cares about Ivan Rodriguez anymore?

On Oct. 7, 1991, David Cone took the hill against Jim Fregosi's Philadelphia Phillies and already had a 3-run lead.
The Phillies were barely ahead of the Mets in the standings going into that final day, but both squads were 20 games back of first place.
No one expected anything special in this game.
Especially not with the Phillies starting lineup of shortstop Kim Batiste, second baseman Mickey Morandini, left fielder Wes Chamberlain, right fielder Dale Murphy, third baseman Dave Hollins, first baseman Ricky Jordan, center fielder Braulio Castio and catcher Doug Lindsey.
Then again, maybe fans should have expected something special. Dale Murphy was aging more quickly than an apple slice on an August day. Hollins and Morandini would each make all-star teams for weak National League squads in the future, but the Phillies' real offensive thunder of Darren Daulton, Lenny Dykstra and John Kruk were MIA.
David Cone, however, was concerned he was going to be arrested. He knew he was under investigation for rape. He didn't know, at the time, that the police would find the woman's allegations to be unfounded.
All David Cone could do on the mound that day was ecape from fear.
And he did.

Say it with me folks: RAAUUUL. IBANEZ.
Games were tight Thursday. Real tight. Tighter than the Orlando Magic.
And happy birthday to the Hall of Fame.
Oh yeah, there's no way you'll believe how the Indians won.

Oh God. We can't believe we're saying this, but Jimmy Rollins needs to collect some walks.
And Harrisburg Senators fans have Stephen Strasburg in their sights.

Man was it a busy day in the Big Leagues.
Did David Ortiz right him self?
Manny Spoke to teammates.
Oh and there was the little thing of the draft.

Another stadium that should have been saved.

The draft seems to be on everybody's mind.
Who was the first player to get 3,000 hits?
Oh yeah, Ozzie Guillen went crazy again. That's always fun.
BREAKING: Mo won't go against the Bo Sox tonight.

The Phillies and Yankees bounced back from blown saves on Saturday.
Shea Stadium has a musical legacy.
And we're still mad about the Nate McLouth trade.

Of course, we have to talk about Randy Johnson even if he once was called Rando Grando.
Cole Hamels was on. He owns L.A. more than Brangelina does.
And don't forget to drink your Melk. It does a Yankee good.
Is Carlos Beltran beginning to hate his teammates?

Sure, 10 years ago, getting the Hall of Fame-bound lefty would have been brilliant.
But with the state of the team's pitching today, it still would be.
Here's the link.

We can't figure out what should we be more irate about. That the Pirates are officially striving for ineptitude? Or is it worse that the Braves released one of the biggest names in franchise history?

Yer out! Casey Blake nips Ryan Roberts to get an out in Tuesday's Dodgers-Diamondbacks game. Joe Torre's squad rallied with a 5-run eighth to win.
Can a saint get demoted? In Washington they can.
Was it really six years ago that Sammy Sosa's bat shattered and cork flew out.
Happy birthday, Raul.

The Mariners had a tough Hill to climb.
The Nationals have some good news.

Several pitchers have put up good numbers, but no one has been nearly as good as Zack Greinke.
At the end of April, the Royals, Mariners, Pirates and Marlins were some of the top performing teams.
That's nowhere near the case any longer.
So let's take a look at the Power Alley now that May has come to an end.

The Wolf is on the hunt.
And what happens when a pack of T-ballers spend four hours at the ballpark? The go more crazy than Carlos Zamrbano. Minus the anger issues.
And how did an umpire toss so many people for so few issues?

For one day, young Orioles fans know what it feels like to win a World Series game. To be down as much as they were and come back is a glorious feeling.

The Orioles had their most exciting win of the season.
The Nats react to a steroid story.
We're seeing less of Charlie Manuel.
And why is Carlos Zambrano going absolutely batcrap crazy?

ESPN baseball guru Jayson Stark will be in York on Saturday to promote his new book, "Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies."
According to Stark's Facebook page, he will be at Bookland, 2114 S. Queen St.
The appearance will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
If you haven't read his book, read the review here.

Pirate Jack Wilson gets brushed back Wednesday.

Eric the Wreck returns, and was anything but a wreck.
David Ortiz was dropped.
And streaks, streaks and more streaks.
It's Weiters time.

Vlad is back.
The Pads are on fire.
And Jerry's in trouble.

We here at The Southpaw hope you don't mind us sleeping in on Memorial Day.
Now, let's begin the weekend's roundup.
Which of course included Bobby Abreu taking your favorite southpaw deep.
Inside, we have a video about baseball and World War II

Spent a wonderful day in and around the nation's capital with my wife, my father-in-law and his girlfriend. Well, it was wonderful until Bobby Abreu took me deep to left.
It started out in Manassas, where we took in the battlefield and did the audio car-tour thing.
It ended with a walk through downtown D.C. that culminated in an 11 p.m. visit to the Supreme Court. I thought of many cases and the importance of the decisions that have come out of those chambers. Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kans., Bush v. Gore, Tyson v Spinks.
It wasn't until now that Curt Flood's case popped into my mind. Of course, Flood lost his case against baseball's reserve clause, but the Players' Union eventually won. All the evidence you need is to know a ticket to a Nationals' (14 wins) game costs $20 bucks.
The evening was spent taking in a ballgame at Nationals Park.
So, I bet you're wondering what the whole Bobby Abreu thing is.

It's about time.
The Orioles finally dropped Adam Eaton.
For two years, Phillies fans watched helplessly as Adam Eaton held them hostage with his three-year, $24 million deal. He didn't pitch like a pitcher who earned $8 mil. He pitched like a batting practice hurler during the Home Run Derby.
Eaton went 10-10, which is respectable enough, in 2007. And he was on a division-winning club in the Liberty City.
However, he complied a 6.29 ERA, gave up 192 hits in 161 innings and tossed 30 home run balls.
While the Phillies were becoming World Champs, Eaton proved to be better than a one-year wonder. His ERA plummeted to 5.80. Yeah. He also went 4-8.
The Phillies released him shortly after the parade.
Then the Orioles picked him up.
Why, who knows. Maybe the hoped his ERA would drop to 5.40.
Really, it was because like all MLB executives, people like his "stuff."
You know what type of "stuff" he has? The stuff of a career 4.94 ERA. It's not that he walks people. It's that batters see him take the hill and think, "Power arm right over the plate. Yippee."
So, after compiling a 8.56 ERA, Eaton was released.
Maybe he can make the Revolution. We here at The Southpaw doubt he would even last in the Atlantic League.
Maybe the South Penn League. But it's doubful.

The World Champs are in The Bronx.
All is right with the world. There's going to be a Gwynn in San Diego.
And a Peavy too. For now.

Our prayers are with Scott Schoeneweis and his family.
Is the future of the Nats injured?
What's going on in Manny's mind?
Is Nick Johnson returning to New York?

Could Barry be the Mets' answer?
Chan Ho got the Heave Ho.
Seven wasn't the O's lucky number.
And you'd better get off the tracks. The D-Train is rolling, rolling rolling.

The Bronx Bombers can do no wrong.
Baltimore has warmed up to Aubrey Huff.
And Carlos Delgado is going under the knife.

Why is the pitcher batting third?
Everyone should be afraid of Prince Fielder.
And David Wills is throwing heat.

Jimmy Rollins, who has actually gotten a hit since the World Series, give President Barack Obama a jersey and ball.
The Phillies, who might have forgotten they're world champs, visited the White House and met President Barack Obama.
Yes that's pinch hit hero Matt Stairs in the background. Sports editor Chris Otto points out Stairs is Canadian.
Also at the ceremony were Sen. Arlen Specter and exiled Phils reliever J.C. Romero.

We have an update on the ump who bumped.
And who the hell is Nestor Chylak
Should the Mets ditch Jose Reyes?

The Giambino struck again. He does have some pop left in his bat, after banging a double for Oakland.

Ryan Zimmerman's streak is over and that's too bad. Things could have gotten very interesting.
We haven't heard much from Lance Berkman this season. He had a loud day Wednesday.
And why are we willing to listen to Peter Edward Rose?

Man, was it a good day to be an Orioles fan.
Roy Halladay emasculated the Yankees. That's the only way to describe it.
Oh, you'll want to stick around for The Closer, where a former Red Sox player talks about being taught to use steroids.

The Rocket is going to be on Mike & Mike at 8:25 this morning. It will be his first interview since the "60 Minutes" waste-of-our-time chat with Mike Wallace.
Check inside to find out why Johan Santana can only shake his head.
Oh, and the Yankees are having a yard sale.

The streak continues.
And is Manny bigger than the Dodgers?

Rivera gets rocked.
The Mets manhandled the Phillies.
The Yanks are on their way to Baltimore.
Oh and, Johnny Bench had Lefty's number.

No, this packed house isn't because of the Orioles' play thus far this season. It's because of a torrential downpour.

Right now, Johan Santana could do anything he wants with a baseball. We're serious. He could split an atom, knock a fly off a dime, throw it through Fort Knox without it being seen.
The Orioles played a Little League game.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Justin Upton bunts and is eventually tagged out at first during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers

A tie. A tie. In baseball. Well, not quite.
Happy Birthday, Willie Mays.
And the Dodgers are still undefeated at home.

They Philadelphia Phillies, the organization that won one whole World Series from 1883 to 2007, have a policy of only retiring the numbers of players who have made it to Cooperstown.
The World Champs need to break that tradition.
There's one player who's not in the Hall of Fame whose jersey needs to be retired this year.

The Phillies-Mets series was a dud, but the Red Sox-Rays was very entertaining.
Joe Maddon's team appears to have life. And, if you didn't know, Carl Crawford is quick as a sneeze.
And don't forget, a daily dose of The Southpaw keeps the swine flu away.

The Pirates still can't beat the Brewers.
Oh yeah, we have more A-Rod juicing stories. We're so unbelievably excited.
And are the Nats about to draft a cornerstone prospect.

It's just a game. And Jayson Stark seems to have never forgotten that.
The ESPN.com scribe writes his columns and stories with the enthusiasm that ordinarily only comes through the eyes of a 7-year-old who's seeing his first Big League game at a Big League park. Along with that joy, Stark brings the wisdom of a 65-year-old sage who's seen so many Spring Trainings he knows the kid with the golden arm needs more seasoning and that the veteran shortstop is just a step slower. A crucial step.
Stark combines the heart of a fan with the head of a general manager.
That's why Stark will one day be in the baseball's Hall of Fame.
It's also why you should pick up his new book, "Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies"

Manny Ramirez smacked three doubles Tuesday.

Alright everybody, give the Yankees a round of applause. The Bronx Bombers finally caught on that there's this little problem of a supply and demand. They slashed ticket prices.
Oh yeah, the big, fat toad is returning.

With April coming to a close, the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles' major off-season moves are looking pretty sharp.
Raul Ibanez is lighting up the National League.
And Koji Uehara is pitching very well.

Raul Ibanez parks the Phillies' second of two grand slams Monday night. The World Champs have won four straight. Boston, however, has 11 consecutive wins.
Adrian Gonzalez, Carlos Pena and Albert Pujols are doing something that hasn't been accomplished since Babe Ruth patrolled the outfield in the first Yankee Stadium.
Oh and, the Phillies had a grand night.

It's a tough task to scout Randy Johnson.
The Mid-Atlantic sweeps.
Carlos Zambrano takes some short hops at third.
And in the "Today in history" section we notice a trend. No-hitters. There have been five of them on this date.

Bud Selig might be about to do something that makes sense. Of course that's news. Of course you want to read what's inside.
And how Selig's comments have anything do with a naked Hal Steinbrenner and Fred Wilpon?
That, my friends, is a tease.

Cole Hames throws a pitch in the first inning Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Phillies ace was injured later in the game when a pitch Prince Fielder crushed struck Hamels in his left shoulder.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels left Thursday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers after being struck in the shoulder by a line drive.
One pitch after giving up a two-run homer to Ryan Braun in the fourth inning, Prince Fielder laced an infield single that hit Hamels in the front of his left shoulder.
Trainers immediately tended to Hamels, who left the game with what the team called a left shoulder contusion. He was replaced by J.A. Happ.
Hamels was the MVP of the 2008 NL Championship Series and World Series, but is off to a rough start this season. He had an 11.17 ERA through his first two starts.
He had cruised through the first three innings Thursday, striking out six of the nine batters he faced.

A day after the Mid-Atlantic's clubs won all of their games, they going 1-3.
What's up with all the walk-offs?
Remember when Colin Cowherd used to brag about Lenny Dykstra's ability to make money? Well, like all things Cowherd, he appears to be wrong.

So why are Little Leaguers breaking their piggy banks for Nats' supposed hothead Elijah Dukes?
The Mid-Atlantic is heating up.
And why is Dontrelle Willis so important?

"Meat!" The Cincinnati Reds' Jerry Hairston Jr. is tagged out by Ivan Rodriguez.
As REM sang, "Everybody hurts." It would seem all the time.
Also, Cole Hamels blames himself.
And how's the attendance been?

We left early. We left early. Will we ever forgive ourselves.
Raul Ibanez blasted a come-from-behind, walk-off home run to cap a 4-run rally.
But we didn't see it. We left early from the Phillies 5-4 win over the Padres. And for what? Pizza and a Cheesesteak at the other end of town.
Well, we had a good time anyway. We did see Jimmy Rollins' pinch hit home run. And we also saw Ryan Howard play some spectacular defense.

With the rest of the first pitch, we revamp our daily updates.

This is what batters feel like when they face Roy Halladay.
The Yankees opened the new Yankee Stadium Thursday with a bang. Two actually. Mystique and Aura just imploded.
Plus, what's wrong with Brad Lidge?

The Orioles had a rough day in Arlington. It was a banner day in Seattle. And congrats are in order to Johan Santana. He and his wife had their third baby, Johan Jr.
And there's this little thing about a new stadium in The Bronx.

David Murphy has a quick note on his blog about the Phillies' planned tribute for beloved broadcaster Harry Kalas.

The day after The City of Brotherly Love cried itself to sleep, there's a lot to talk about Harry Kalas.
We have many links to stories about the late Harry Kalas, some recaps of good action on Monday and few other interesting notes.

Harry Kalas, the hall of fame voice of the Philadelphia Phillies, has been taken to the hospital.

Here's the Associated Press story so far:
WASHINGTON -- Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas was taken to a hospital Monday after passing out in the broadcast booth before Monday's game against the Washington Nationals, team president David Montgomery said.
"I think it's serious," Montgomery said. "Our thoughts and prayers are obviously with Harry."
The 73-year-old Kalas, known for his distinctive "Outta here!" call on home runs, was found by the Phillies director of broadcasting at about 12:30 p.m., Montgomery said.
Kalas joined the Phillies in 1971. Before that, he was an original member of the Houston Astros' broadcast team from 1965-70.
In 2002, he received the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award for his contributions to the game.

Philly.com has a gallery of Harry the K.

The Angels and Red Sox have some recent history. Of course, Bobby Abreu brings his own Bronx-tinged past into the equation. It all added up to some fun shoving in Disneyland.
After the first week, we now know several things.
The Washington Nationals still haven't won a game. The Braves and Marlins are tied for the best record in baseball with 5-1 marks. The Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres and and St. Louis Cardinals are 5-2. Last year's World Series participants are both 3-3.
And individually, Evan Longoria has five big flies, Ryan Theroit is batting .550, Adam Lind has 12 RBI, Johan Santana has struck out 20 batters.
And Joba Chamberlain raided Marcel Marceau's wardrobe.

The Los Angeles Times' Bill Shaikin has a very touching piece on how Nick Adenhart's father is coping with a horrible tragedy. His death is felt beyond the team's city, writes Lisa Dillman. Rob Neyer looks at how often death has touched the Angels.

Mike Lupica says Joba Chamberlian has something to learn from Adenhart's death.

It's hard to talk about what went on in major league baseball after reading about Adenhart, but some pretty interesting things happened Thursday in the Big Leagues, including a great game in the south side of Chicago. And what's wrong with Obama?

Thanks to an alert Comcast employee, we have an update on today's Phillies game.

The Orioles torched the Yankees for a second straight game. The Phillies proved they're still World Champs and what favor is the Nationals' president asking from Phillies fans.

Houston Astros' Jeff Keppinger gets a broken-bat, game-winning single as the Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 in 10 innings in a baseball game Tuesday.

Jim Thome homered and the Red Sox won. Of course, that's happened a lot this decade.
No booze in Toronto.
Happy anniversary, Hank.
Oh, and we have some words from Joba the Drunk.

Cesar Izturis rocked Camden Yards Monday when his eighth inning blast broke open the game.
Monday's slate of games brought a great pitching match-up, a rare home run trot and big wins for the participants of the 1979 World Series.
Our very own Mike Argento writes about local fans braving the weather in Baltimore.
Oh, and who's the idiot in the league office that scheduled openers in Chicago and Boston?

I just have to pass along this story.
Molly and I were in the clubhouse store at Citizens Bank Park during the opening game. Molly saw a pink shirt she thought was cute and wanted to buy. But she told me it was $75. We both agree. Seventy-five bucks for anything made of a polyester and cotton mix that cannot keep you warm in 55-degree weather is way too steep an asking price.
Later, we walked by and she pointed it out. It was basically a T-shirt - we'd already bought two at $28 apiece - and I couldn't help but think, "No way is that shirt more than 30 bucks." In fact, at that price I thought it would be grossly overvalued.

Despite a 4-1 loss, it was a fun party in Philadelphia on Sunday.
We here at The Southpaw hope you have a great day. Catch a game on TV. Hope - also known as the smell of hot dogs cooking on the grill - is in the air. Baseball's back.

Well, this wouldn't be a reputable baseball site if we here at The Southpaw didn't have some preseason predictions.
So here goes:

There's a new rivalry in the Wild, Wild West.

Gary Sheffield got cut, Chipper signed, and Mike Gallego, yes Mike Gallego, is looking for his glove.

Oh an, how long before the boos rain in Philadelphia?

One of the most popular players here at The Southpaw is current San Diego Padres second baseman David Eckstein makes a catch against the Cleveland Indians in the third inning of a Spring Training game Monday.
Spring Training is almost over. It's a bittersweet feeling, kind of like riding the school bus for the last time. You're moving on to better things, but you had a lot of fun while it lasted.

Remember Pat Listach?

In today's first pitch, find out what is causing ardent Phillies fan and YDR reporter Jeff Frantz to hope the team loses on Opening Night. And why is he asking, "What, are we Notre Dame now?"

What's so crazy about pitchers batting ninth?
Oh, and we have more on the Pirate player's wife being charged in kidnapping.

Japan's Ichiro Suzuki hits a line drive single past South Korea's Lim Chang Yong driving in two runs in the tenth inning of Japan's 5-3 victory.

Ichiro. Ichiro. Ichiro.

Ichiro Suzuki hits a single during the eighth inning of Japan's 9-4 win over Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Japan dropped the United States with ease Sunday, during a 9-4 win. Of course, the big problem for the United States, other than Davey Johnson doing his best impersonation of Tony Muser, is pitching. The Major League Clubs have completely tied the hands of Team USA, when it comes to pitching.
That said, the game would have been much more entertaining if Joe Morgan had locked Steve Phillips out of the broadcast booth. The former Mets General Manager had one of his worst days behind the mike. The normally astute Phillips, was bungling trivia questions about Japanese professional baseball.

The Nats sign a solid free agent and release someone who was expected to contribute to the rotation.
Besides that, a bunch of odd things.
Forget about representing your country. Your employer wants you back. Dodger dogs going kosher. And who's Honey Bear? Or was that Sugar Bear?

The World Baseball Classic dominates today's story lines.

A Met got a clutch hit. Now that's news.
Thanks to David Wright, Team USA moved on to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.
Oh, and Sidney Ponson has resurfaced.

Happy St. Patrick's Day. In honor of the Roman former slave, who never really chased snakes out of Ireland but did help unite the country while baptizing thousands, we look at some of the best "Irish" names in baseball history.
3. Born in Belfast,and a graduate of Penn State, we have Irish McIlveen.
2. Paddy Green batted .185 for his career, but the Villanova product did swipe two bases in his cup of coffee with the bigs.
1. Troy O'Leary, hit 127 homers in his career, including 28 in 1999.
Well, back to the first pitch report.

On the eve of St. Paddy's day, the Philadelphia Phillies are celebrating St. Jude's day.

There's no truth to the rumor Adam Dunn wants to keep Brian Roberts as a pet. The Orioles' diminutive second baseman teamed with Dunn and Jimmy Rollins to propel Team USA to a win.
After a couple days of rest in the bullpen, The Southpaw is ready to fire some bullets.

Who's the better shortstop right now: Derek Jeter or Jimmy Rollins?
An Orioles' bullpen stalwart is being shut down.
Oh yeah, and are some Phillies' officials concerned about Cole Hamels?

The Los Angeles Dodgers need pitcher Randy Wolf to have a strong season if they are going to make the playoffs. Wolf is an underrated player with a 90-78 record and 1,227 strikeouts against 547 walks in 1,468 innings.

ESPN's Eric Young tells Jonathan Papelbon to zip it.
Plus, there's an addition to the Orioles' family.
Oh, and we have a happy Fidel.

Might the World Champs move on from one of their biggest postseason stars? Are the Orioles going to sign a future Hall of Famer? And how does Hugo Chavez' happiness pertain to baseball?
We look at all those questions and more in today's edition of First Pitch.

Dominican Republic's catcher Miguel Olivo, center right, is surrounded by Netherlands' players celebrating their 2-1 victory in the eleventh inning of a World Baseball Classic game in San Juan, Tuesday.

Roger Clemens has ties to the Obama administration. No, he didn't forget to pay taxes.
At least that we know of.

With All Star talent such as Corey Koskie, left, Jayson Bay, head down, and Russell Martin, far right, Team Canada should have had a stronger showing in the World Baseball Classic.

Can a man making $25 million be a loser? Jayson Stark says it's possible.
And, A-Rod's doctor says there's no surprises.

After a brief time away from the computer, we're back with some news:
A-Rod's having surgery, Lou Marsen is catching on and Ken Griffey Jr. is up to his old tricks.

Alex Rodriguez's season from hell continues.
And the skids have been greased to put a new stadium in the Marlins' future.

Japanese third baseman Shuichi Murata blasts a home run against China during the first game of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

The World Baseball Classic has begun.

Finally, it looks as if the Manny Saga is over.

In today's first pitch we take an in-depth look at some issues for the area's squads, the Philadelphia Philles, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals.
We also look at the underrated Orlando Hernandez and what he brings to his new team.

Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus makes a valiant attempt Sunday at a base hit by the Seattle Mariners' Matt Tuiasosopo. Seattle outslugged the Ranges, 13-6.

We've got A-Rod. We've got Manny. And a member of the Phillies World Championship team has joined the Orioles. But before O's fans get excited, they should know they didn't get Cole Hamels.

Scandals in Washington D.C. are so contagious they've even caught a high-profile baseball official.
With a supposed federal investigation under way, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden has resigned.
He admits he's a distraction, blames the press and claims innocence.
But that's not the only big news Sunday.

Today, we take a look at Barry Bonds' legal issues, plus Johan Santana might miss Opening Day.

Right after the World Series, The Southpaw was shopping for a T-shirt to celebrate the Philadelphia Phillies. There was an awesome one at a local department store. It had a roster on the back. Which was cool.
Until The Southpaw realized Adam Eaton was listed on it.
But it's all OK now. The champs cut the chump Friday.

Manny did what?
Plus we have a roundup of Thursday's games and highlight some of the best stories on the Web.

It was good to see some action on the diamond Wednesday.
But there was also some interesting off-field news. Including some reports on Manny Ramirez's contract status.
And a couple players might already be out for the year.

New York Mets' Daniel Murphy scores on a single Wednesday by teammate Ryan Church as Baltimore Orioles catcher Gregg Zaun waits for the throw. In Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Mets won 9-3.
The World Champion Phillies got thumped by the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-2. But the good news is Jamie Moyer looked strong. Joe Blanton gave up a run but wasn't too bad.
As for the Orioles, well not much to talk about.

Yes. It's here. The first day of spring training games.
Here's a look at today's schedule. MLB.TV gets into the act with two games: The San Francisco Giants travel to the Cleveland Indians at 3:05 p.m. ET in Goodyear, Ariz., and then the Boston Red Sox split-squad game against the Twins at 7:05 p.m. in Lee County, Fla.

Unlike Clint Barnes, the Southpaw doesn't let anything get through. Except, maybe, a dangling participle or split infinitive.
Don Fehr in O's camp. That can't be good.

The Southpaw apologizes for the delay. No rain. Just technical difficulties.
But even when there's a late start there's still tons of news.

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Koji Uehara, of Japan, throws a live batting practice during spring training baseball Saturday.

Things continue to be busy in Baltimore Orioles camp. The rest of the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues are just as interesting, however.

Two Hall of Famers return to their roots, Brian Roberts reflects and Chase Utley has something to prove.

News about The Kid overshadows all.

For all morning news not concerning a certain Yankees third baseman, here's your fix.

In Phillies camp, Raul is ready, while Rich Hill looks to Impress his Baltimore teammates. Oh, and Odalis Perez is holding out.

The Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues continue to buzz. The Phillies signed a free agent, Manny Acta says, "Ya gotta believe," and the Orioles have some questions to answer.
And Milton Bradley's back in the news. But Cubs fans can actually be happy about it.

Here at The Southpaw, we love the weekend because we can sleep in.
But that also means a later start on the first pitch.
Today's news includes a look at Larry Bigbie, the Yankees pitching staff, the Mets are talking about talking and Jamie Moyer has harsh words about A-Rod.

Everytime J.C. Romero opens his mouth he, wait a minute, did I just read there's a hotline for players to call to find out about steroids?