Kill The Umps



You have to begin to wonder, with the ejection rate of both players and manager on a steady rise, if the Umps are beginning to take too much control over the game.

"One thing about this league, you can't argue about anything," said Guillen, who said Scott immediately warned him before he came onto the field.

"You argue about balks, you're out of the game. You argue about strikes, you're out of the game. You argue about checked swings, you're out of the game. You argue about hit by pitches, you're out of the game.

"What I would like to know, who ever runs this game, send me a note and say what any manager can go out and argue with the umpire. I don't say it was wrong or right, but I'd like to know what you can argue. Because if you can't argue about anything, why do we have a job for you? It's good to protect the umpires, but you have to have some limits."

"When you go argue with the umpires and the first thing they say is you can't argue this or that, then what is my job, to make the lineup and watch the game?"

The White Sox frustration was palatable, as was their loss which dropped their lead over the second place Detroit Tigers to a half game.

*****

In spite of losing two potential All Star outfielders in Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui, the Yankees starters are 13-2 over their last 18 games and the Yankees improved on their undefeated day game mark, going to 12-0 in day games with their recent victory over the A's.

*****


Unhappy days, (aren't they all) with the Cubbies...

Since returning to the Dodgers from a sprained oblique three weeks ago, Nomar Garciaparra has been among the majors' best hitters, producing a .360 average, 15 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs in his first 75 at-bats.

*****
Injuries For Ace



5-2 2.94 ERA, 48 Ks in 49 IP....

Bad enough that Scott Kazmir continues to be the pitcher that got away from the Mets. Bad enough that the scrubs they got for him never really performed. But look, the Mets announced yesterday that righty reliever Bartolome Fortunato, who pitched in two games for last weekend against Atlanta, will have Tommy John surgery Thursday in New York.

Fortunato, who missed all of 2005 after a diskectomy for a herniated disc, was acquired from the Devil Rays with Victor Zambrano in the Scott Kazmir deal. Zambrano is out for the season with a flexor muscle tear.

By the end of the season, Baltimore may well consider its acquisition of fromer Met pitcher Mrs Anna Benson a heist. While the two spare parts Baltimore sent to the New York Mets, pitchers Jorge Julio and John Maine, have struggled, Benson has turned into the Orioles' best starter. He leads the team in wins and ERA. Benson allowed just one run and four hits in seven innings to record his fifth win, lowering his ERA to 4.38.

*****



Phillies righthander Jon Lieber had a perfect game through 62/3 innings in an impressive 2-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The Phillies, who have won 12 of 13 and remained just two behind the New York Mets in the National League East, took a 1-0 lead in the seventh when Quinton McCracken dropped Ryan Howard's pop fly with two outs. David Bell followed with a double off Reds lefthander Dave Williams, who allowed just two runs in 81/3 innings.

The loss ended the Reds' 15-day stay atop the NL Central for the rest of the season. They fell one game behind St. Louis and will never see first again. The early season fantasy world will crumble quickly from hereinafter. Mark my words, Cincinnati.

*****



Brad Lidge's ERA in the 23 games he has pitched starting with Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS, when he gave up Albert Pujols's game-winning three-run home run. He has blown four of his 16 save opportunities and has allowed five home runs in 22 1/3 innings in that span. From the time he took over as closer in June 2004 until then, he had a 1.80 ERA, had blown seven saves in 83 opportunities and given up 10 home runs in 145 1/3 innings.

Think the Astros aren't missing the Hill Billy?

*****

Jim Thome vs. Frank Thomas

When Frank Thomas took some verbal jabs at the White Sox after his departure, I agreed with him on one thing and thought he was going out on a limb with another. That limb has snapped.

I agreed with Thomas that Kenny Williams and Jerry Reinsdorf should have told Thomas their intentions in person. When a relationship lasts that long, it calls for more than a phone call or voice mail.

But when Thomas criticized the Sox for letting him go because they were trading for Jim Thome, I thought Thomas may be setting himself up for some bashing. Thomas said Thome wouldn't do more on the field than Thomas. Let's take a look.

Thomas is batting .178 with six homers and 15 RBI for the A's, who are 17-15 and in second place in the AL West. He has a .270 on-base percentage and .376 slugging percentage.

Thome is hitting .321 with 14 homers and 36 RBI for the best team in baseball. He has a .471 OBP and a .764 slugging percentage.

*****

How many Giants fans care if Bonds hits #714? He's far better for the team walking.

The Giants have scored 40 of their 160 runs following a Bonds walk. They've scored 25 runs after his 15 intentional walks. In the last 16 games, San Francisco hitters are 8 for 13 with 2 homers and 10 RBIs immediately after Bonds walks.


*****

The Grizzled Vet



*****

Excellent photo of the Man Who Won't Retire, Brett Favre. Here's hoping he bounces back big next season.

According to Favre, his career-low passer rating of 70.9 (58.0 in the last 10 games), which ranked 31st in the NFL, was more a reflection of circumstances and the personnel around him than slippage in his own level of performance.

Maybe he should try some of this Russian tea: