Hard to believe we’re almost half way through the 2009 campaign and any team not named the LA Dodgers cannot go a week without sweating out the current standings. And now even the Dodgers have to start looking in the rearview mirror… but enter Manny.

Everyone is expecting this guy to just crash and burn after coming back from a juice induced suspension; it’s not happening. The juice only brings you so far, and the one thing it really prevents is a mid 30 year old’s body from breaking down and giving him a quicker recovery.

Since Manny has had darn near 2 months off, I don’t see it.

Mariano’s 500…Now the saves thing is great, but it wasn’t the best part of the game. How the FUCK did one of the best relievers in baseball walk a guy who has 5 plate appearances (regular and postseason) in his career? Sure the bases were loaded, but do you really think Mo is gonna make you pay for a shit pitch?  Give me $1000 I’ll make sure he doesn’t get on base and if he does it’s because the ball was thrown between his eyes.  D Note: Just giggling at the thought of Mariano taking one between the eyes… but honestly, I’ve got nothing negative to say about the guy.  Class act, best closer in baseball history, and I hate him everytime he’s on the mound.  Well, not every time…

D Note: Thankfully, the world has kind of smartened up… Manny has dropped to seventh among NL Outfielders in All-Star voting.  Thankfully.  Of course, somehow Josh Hamilton is still on pace to be a starter for the American League, despite putting up a stupendous .240/6/24 with a .290 OBP in the 35 games he’s actually appeared in this year.  Seems like a natural All-Star.  Not like Adam Lind, Torii Hunter, Jason Kubel or Carl Crawford is more deserving of that start…(Trey Note: I’d pay to see Manny in the All Star game just to watch the media flip its lid)

Good ol’ Sweet Lou…If the Cubs didn’t plan the Lou Piniella/Milton Bradley marriage to keep the national reporters in their clubhouse, they sure they’re glad they did. In typical fashion Lou blew up, because his team isn’t playing good ball, and as usual Milton Bradley is one of those players not playing so well… and as usual both had something to say about it. I imagine it went something like this…

Lou: Do you do anything for this team? Take that uniform off and get the fuck out of here.
Milton: Fine, I will. And I’ll put on my Armani suit, drive over to the club and screw some hot chick that likes me simply because I show up in the box score every once in a while.

Wanna draw fans…and shady drug habits? Looks like the nightlife around Safeco Field will take a turn for the better.

The Holy Sh*t! You Think You Still Have a Shot Award…goes to Frank Thomas…who is close to retirement. For most people, retirement is something they do because they choose to.  D Note: Hey, if the guy can DH for 50 games and pinch-hit in another 10-15, bat .260 with 10HRs and 45 RBIs, I can think of five teams off the top of my head who’d give him a look.  If you’ve still got the drive and the ability, there’s no reason to retire (see Favre, Brett).

I love the College World Series…I know, I know aluminum bats! Anyone who watched the Texas/LSU series (and the TV ratings say a lot of America did) saw some great baseball as the Tigers won yet another CWS championship.  D Note: I love it too.  Would have loved it more if I’d actually been able to go instead of sitting in a hotel room four miles away for the entire day…

Trey: Overrated: The Yankees sweep of the AAA Mets…Self explainatory. Underrated: Colorado’s sweep of Oakland. Of course the A’s are absolute crap, but Colorado needed to respond after losing two of three to the Angels. They’re hot. Damn hot.

D: Overrated: The NL Central.  Five games seperate six teams.  Yeesh… +5 over .500 is good enough for first, while only -5 under .500 puts you in dead last (Hello Pittsburgh!)  Overrated: All these friggin’ athletes on the DL with “anxiety” disorder.  I’m sorry – if you have panic attacks when you’re in front of a bunch of people, perhaps you shouldn’t have chosen professional sports as a job.  Go sell used cars or something.  Otherwise, man up and play the damned game.

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