CSF

11 pitch at bat to Frank results in a walk. Bases should be loaded right now. Come on CLee!

Just how big is this ump's strike zone? :fyou

No reliever (except for Mariano Rivera & Eric Gagne) is completely lights-out these days, but Marte for the last 3 years has been damn tough. This year though, he just seems to keep missing his spots. The game against Cleveland when he walked Hafner (I think) to load the bases, then gave up the tying run on a sac fly. Then again today, when he missed his spot and gave up the tying home run to Delgado. His 1st 2 pitches were awesome, then that slider could've been called strike 3, but then he grooved a fastball down the middle on the home run. I wonder if he's trying to live up to the contract he signed during ST? Or maybe it's just a dead arm right now. Either way, I hope he finds his groove soon. Because he is probably the most important person in that 'pen.

That's essentially how Julie Swieca lost her job at the Score. I remember listening to her show back in February when she was going to dedicate a good portion of her show to the Sox (after all the Cubbie crap was being played) when she was told to talk about the Maddux signing. She didn't seem too happy about it and resigned a few days later.

Yankees win 12-4.

Yankees beat Royals 12-4.

Tarp was removed, and John Rooney just said the game should have a starting time of 3:35pm.

He can't remain in that bullpen too much longer.

Sending a lamb to the slaughter.

I just heard Dave Wills say on the pre-game show that Valentin is now 0-8 with 4K's in his 2 games. Not good. :puke

Unfortunately, I think those numbers were the "Seattle" version of Aaron Sele. The "Anaheim" version hasn't fared so well in recent years.

Well, regardless of what happens between the Sox and Jays, the Royals won't likely pick up any ground. Ruben Sierra just hit a slam off of Leskanic, and now it's 12-4 New York.

Ruben Sierra just unloaded off of Curtis Leskanic for a grand slam. Now 12-4 Yankees.

Ask and you shall receive. Villacis line: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB's, 0 K's.

And even better that the Twinkies get the Yankees the next to last series of the year.

Unfortunately, I think the Twinkies will still be in 1st after this weekend. The Angels threw Ramon Ortiz yesterday. Escobar was supposed to go today, but a fingernail injury will keep him out, so Aaron Sele goes instead. And tomorrow, they'll throw Lackey against Santana. I just hope when they go up to Safeco next week, that Seattle's pitching can cool them off.

Exactly. BTW, Yanks beating KC 7-2 in the 8th. Lieber's current line: 7IP, 5H, 2ER, 0BB, 3K's. I'd say the Yanks found their 4th (or 5th) starter.

I thought it was pretty funny. I was waiting for the sherpas that Jim Caple talked about in his review of USCF last year in this video. But I'm still waiting for the N fan with headphones to catch a foul ball and watch the leftfielder scream like a child.

From the Oakland Tribune: Giants pitchers rip into Pierzynski Players say 'he's the cancer in here' and doesn't help staff By Andrew Baggarly, STAFF WRITER SAN FRANCISCO -- Struggling Giants catcher A.J. Pierzynski was called into Felipe Alou's office for a closed-door meeting Thursday with the manager and general manager Brian Sabean before a 4-3 loss to the Marlins, and while Pierzynski said he did not ask to be traded, several teammates said they wouldn't mind seeing him shipped off the roster. "He's the cancer in here," said one Giant, who requested anonymity. "The pitchers aren't happy with him. If they can trade him, that would be fine with me. We all know Yorvie (Yorvit Torrealba) can catch this staff." Pierzynski, who came over from Minnesota in an off-season trade, denied he wants out of San Francisco, and said he has worked hard to develop a rapport with the pitchers here. But several pitchers disagreed, and questioned Pierzynski's work ethic. The latest incident occurred before Wednesday's game, when two players confirmed Pierzynski ignored starting pitcher Brett Tomko's request to go over opposing hitters. Instead, the players said, Pierzynski resumed playing cards for another 20 minutes. "I've never in all my years seen a catcher who didn't watch video before games," one pitcher said. "He doesn't watch hitters -- other than the Twins games when they're on TV." Another disturbing story made its way through the clubhouse last week. According to two Giants players, the Padres' Phil Nevin said Pierzynski was criticizing Giants pitchers while Nevin was at the plate. "That did it for me," one Giants pitcher said. "If a pitching staff doesn't have the respect of their catcher, that's it. That's what it's all about. "I can understand if you're a veteran who's been here six years, somebody like Benito (Santiago). That's one thing. You're entitled to do things your way. But when you're coming into a new situation, you're the one that has to earn respect. This is an established pitching staff." Added another pitcher: "He's my catcher. I've got to work with the guy. But if they make a change, that would be fine by me." Neither Alou nor Sabean would comment on the meeting, though Sabean said it wasn't about finding Pierzynski a change of scenery. Two other major league GMs said they didn't believe the Giants were actively shopping him. "Absolutely, unequivocally no," Sabean said. "Not on his part, not on our part. Whoever is saying that is giving an utter line of bull." Said Pierzynski: "Me, Brian and Felipe sat down and talked about things, about what's going on with the team. It was a constructive and fun conversation. No problems were brought up at all." But according to two players, Pierzynski has privately said he is unhappy in San Francisco and wants out. When asked directly if that was the case, Pierzynski laughed. "Hell no," he said. "I'd never ask to be traded. First of all, I'd never do that. Why would I request to be traded? We've played 20 games. This is a great park, a great place to play. "If they trade me, I'll go wherever they send me and be happy there. It's kind of funny, actually. I've already been traded once this year. I'll go somewhere else if that's what they want. There's nothing I can do. I don't have a no-trade clause. I can just pack up and go." Pierzynski developed a reputation as a hothead in Minnesota and was unpopular with many opposing teams who accused him of chirping behind the plate and other unsportsmanlike conduct. This spring, the Giants accepted him and several players praised his feisty, emotional style of play. A month into the season, the honeymoon apparently is over. "You know he's an abrasive person, and you tolerate it," a Giants pitcher said, "but when you're around it this long, it starts to wear you out." A career .301 hitter entering the season, Pierzynski has four hits over his past nine at-bats to raise his average to .236. He has grounded into a team-leading seven double plays and has become a magnet for boos at China Basin. Some pitchers wondered aloud if Pierzynski hasn't continued to sulk over his hitting slump while he's supposed to be focusing on calling pitches -- a charge Pierzynski pointedly denied. "My job is to help this staff," he said. "Hitting is a bonus. I take pride in not taking my at-bats into the field. Defensively, I think I've been pretty good, and I feel it's getting better. "It's always a work in progress when they get a new guy. I'm working to get better, and the guys have been great to me. I talked to Woody (Kirk Rueter) after his start, I talked to Tomko today. It's all about getting a feel for what they need to do to get better. We talk about pitch selection between innings all the time."

Good work my friend! If the news doesn't happen outside of the city of Brotherly Love, "Philly" Stark doesn't pay attention. Way to correct him on his error.

I'd say batting close to .300, leading the team in walks, & 3rd in homers tells me he's putting up the numbers. For Dan George to mention that s*** 2 weeks after it happened is inexcusable.

That's a White Sox winner!!!!

Rank LW Team 1 2 Florida Marlins So far, so good for Armando Benitez, whose 10 saves are tied for the most in the majors. The well-traveled closer has taken more than a few shots over the years. Then again, he's given up his share, too. 2 6 Boston Red Sox Backup catcher Doug Mirabelli hit two home runs in a game last week, but don't expect him to ask for more playing time. "Overexposure," he said, "is the quickest way out of this game." 3 1 Los Angeles Dodgers When Eric Gagne gave up a homer to Barry Bonds on April 16, he became the 14th Cy Young Award winner to be so victimized. Hey, don't pretend you don't want to know this stuff. 4 3 Minnesota Twins Lew Ford asked a teammate during spring training if the opposing pitcher was someone they'd faced in Pawtucket last season. The pitcher was Keith Foulke. In this case, ignorance really is bliss: Ford is batting .529 with runners in scoring position, tops in the AL. 5 9 Chicago Cubs How about Dusty Baker screwing up the double switch the other night, then getting kicked out of the game when he argued about it with an ump? Could have been worse, I guess. Could have happened in Philadelphia. 6 7 Cincinnati Reds Danny Graves got upset last week in Chicago when Cubs broadcaster Ron Santo said Graves looked like he'd had a few Krispy Kreme donuts. Three words, Danny: pinstripe road unis. 7 8 Chicago White Sox Then there's Frank Thomas complaining about his $6 million salary being too small, then complaining about writers making him sound negative. Gee, Frank, you made $9.9 million for playing in 20 games in 2001 -- how could anyone do that? 8 4 Baltimore Orioles When Martin Sheen, as The West Wing's Jed Bartlett, threw out the first pitch last week at Camden Yard, he became the third fictional president to do so at an Orioles game. No, smart guy, Dubya isn't one of the others. 9 5 Houston Astros They're barely above .500 right now, but don't blame Andy Pettitte's absence. Jimy Williams' team is 3-0 in games the lefty would have started if he weren't on the DL. 10 18 San Diego Padres The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sponsors a commemorative brick at new PETCO Park. The brick reads: "Break Open Your Cold Ones! Toast The Padres! Enjoy This Championship Organization!" Spell out the first letter of each word. 11 17 Texas Rangers They went into Thursday's games leading the AL with a .314 average. Only the mean-spirited would note that's 61 points higher than former captain Alex Rodriguez's .253. 12 10 Detroit Tigers Brandon Inge has started games at catcher, third base, left field and center field this season, the first major leaguer to do so since Ron Pruitt in 1980. He's also the Tigers' emergency spare-the-bullpen pitcher, a much easier job this season than last. 13 15 Anaheim Angels Reliever Ben Weber decided to shave off a new 8-inch beard after giving up runs in five of his first seven appearances. "The chicks were digging it, but the ERA was not," he said. "Actually, the chicks weren't digging it either." 14 12 Atlanta Braves How much does Bobby Cox hate the team's new gray road jackets? "I'd rather wear pink," he said. At least, we hope that's the reason he said it. 15 16 St. Louis Cardinals When Mark McGwire returned to St. Louis last week, he called his time with the Cards the "greatest four years of my life as a ballplayer." Somewhere, a disconsolate Jose Canseco is saying, "You know, you think you know someone ..." 16 19 Milwaukee Brewers They're the only team in either league that hasn't used the disabled list this season. Which, as long as Ben Sheets is on the roster, has to make Ned Yost extremely nervous. 17 14 New York Yankees There's talk that Milton Bradley's role model, Kenny Lofton, is available for the right price. Hey, who wouldn't be interested in a grumpy, injured 36-year-old outfielder hitting .167 with a two-year, $6.2 million contract? 18 11 Oakland Athletics Barry Zito was tipping his pitches, shaking his glove slightly before throwing a curve, until ESPN's Rob Dibble and teammate Jermaine Dye alerted him. He also no longer yells, "Swing, batter!" before throwing his fastball. 19 13 Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher Kris Benson has six sacrifice bunts this season. Only three AL teams, the Indians (8), White Sox (7) and Tigers (7), have more. 20 24 Philadelphia Phillies They lost five in a row, won four, then lost three before winning four of the past five. Said Randy Wolf: "I think we're sponsored by Tums." 21 21 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Their average attendance of 25,839 isn't bad -- until you realize MLB is counting the two sellout crowds of 55,000 for the Tokyo games with the Yankees. Otherwise, it's 18,548 -- 28th out of 30 teams. And Donald Fehr thinks baseball fudges figures. 22 20 Colorado Rockies Because Preston Wilson refused to sign a waiver, the team was restricted in what it could disclose about his condition after undergoing knee surgery this week. Still, the word "ouchie" doesn't really tell us a lot. 23 30 Arizona Diamondbacks Roberto Alomar, out for two months with a broken hand and maybe done, still gets way too much heat for that spitting incident a few years back. An old-timer named Frenchy Bordagaray was once fined $500 for doing the same thing. "The penalty was a little more than I expectorated," he said. 24 22 San Francisco Giants Even more impressive than his string of homers is Bonds' on-base percentage of .687. That's 105 points higher than the record set by Bonds in 2002. Not bad for a guy whose worst month usually has been April. 25 23 New York Mets Mike Piazza hit his 351st homer as a catcher this week, tying Carlton Fisk atop the all-time list. And Fisk never did a TV commercial with ALF, did he? 26 29 Toronto Blue Jays Is Carlos Delgado unflappable or what? Last week someone asked him if his bad knee was responsible for an early season slump. "It only hurts when I run," Delgado said. "So it's feeling great right now." 27 26 Kansas City Royals Then there's Tony Pena, the anti-Bowa. Pena is so loose that after a fifth straight loss last week, he walked into the showers and began soaping up -- in full uniform. Of course, the story would have a better ending if the Royals didn't go on to lose No. 6 the next night. 28 27 Cleveland Indians The only pitcher who didn't give up a run in last week's 15-5 loss to the Royals was catcher Tim Laker. Of course, Laker was working on 960 days' rest. He also pitched a scoreless inning against the White Sox in 2001. 29 25 Seattle Mariners Closer Eddie Guardardo needed to get four outs for his save Tuesday night against the Orioles. None of his 45 saves last season required more than three outs. "I can't remember the last time I came into the game in the eighth inning," Guardardo said between puffs of oxygen. 30 28 Montreal Expos They scored 27 runs in their first 16 games. The Cardinals hit 34 home runs in their first 15 games. Yeah, baseball is a game of inches. Sometimes, though, it's a whole lot of inches. Dan George is a Senior Producer for SI.com. Information gathered from various news sources. Last week, I was praising this guy for being fair and objective, then he comes back with this? And the Frank comment was WAY out of line. You try playing with a shoulder injury that takes 2 years to heal you clown. :fyou

Like I said earlier, looks like the Sox are gonna get squeezed again by the umps. Hentgen gets the low strike, but Loaiza doesn't? BS.