Diamond Dust: Cardinals, Chipper, and Cliff Edition

The Not-So Crappy Cardinals continue to impress, weathering last week's stretch of bad baseball by winning three out of four and reclaiming a share of first place in the NL Central. Pujols is still the best player on the planet, but the play of Skip Schumaker, Adam Kennedy (yes, the same Kennedy who was good 5 years ago), and Ryan Ludwick at the plate have given this team a lift. The pitching of these Cardinals continues to defy the odds. What should have been one of the worst rotations in the last 25 years, has been lights-out:

• Adam Wainwright--3-1/2.79 ERA
• Kyle Lohse--3-0/2.36 ERA
• Joel Pineiro--2-2/3.75 ERA
• Braden Looper--3-1/4.05 ERA
• Todd Wellemeyer--2-1/4.14 ERA

Currently, the Cardinals rank third in all of baseball with a team ERA of 3.46. Other baseball-related observations not related to the Not-So Crappy Cardinals are:

• Many surprises continue at the top of many divisions. The Orioles continue to torment its fan base by playing well. I am setting the over-under for days before the birds start their collapse and end up in the cellar at 20. The White Sox are still on top and the Tigers are still at the bottom of the AL Central, but the latter is still working on closing the gap. How is Oakland tied for first with the ALs best record? A league best, 3.11 team ERA helps. The Marlins still lead the NL East despite ranking 21st in team ERA, 18th in runs scored, and 29th in team fielding percentage. What does this team do well? Win.
• Chipper Jones is doing his best 1925 Rogers Hornsby. In 1925, Hornsby hit .404 with 39 home runs and 143 RBIs for the Cardinals. Chipper is currently hitting .432 with 8 home runs and 21 RBIs. Can he stay healthy?
• While Cliff Lee has been nothing short of sensational, as chronicled here, Brandon Webb is trying to be the NL version of Cliff Lee, sexy 0.28 ERA not included. In 6 starts, Webb is 6-0 with an ERA of 1.98 (Cliff Lee scoffs at an ERA that high) and 34 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched.
• Hitters to watch not named Chipper--Albert Pujols, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Derrick Lee, Rafael Furcal, Manny Ramirez, and Josh Hamilton
• Pitchers to watch not named Cliff and Brandon--Edinson Volquez (who?), Ben Sheets, Tim Lincecum, and Zack Greinke

D Is For Disappointment

If I were Avery Johnson, I would not feel to secure in my position as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Last night's loss at the hands of Hornets meant that his teams have failed to make it out of the first round in consecutive seasons. No one really expected them to win this year, but is this an excuse for a team that won 67 games a year ago? I say no. This team should be better. Most picked them to contend in the super-loaded Western Conference and this team barely made the playoffs. Chris Paul continued to display why he is a top 3 player in the league (and deserving MVP for this season) with a triple double in last night's win (24/11/15). In his first 5 career playoff games, Paul is averaging 25 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, and 2 steals. The other disappointing team in the Western Conference would have to be the Phoenix Suns, who were a chic pick to win the conference this year and were eliminated in the first round by the Spurs last night. Like Dallas, this team should be better and should not have been in a position where they were playing the Spurs in the first round. This team should spend the entire offseason working on defending the pick and roll, as the combination of Duncan and Parker made these guys look like clowns defensively. Also, free throw shooting was a problem. The Suns did their best Memphis Tigers impersonation, missing 17 free throws. The biggest problem for this team as they move forward is age. Shaq looks and plays much slower. While he can still be effective in small doses, he is nowhere near the force he once was. Grant Hill missed this series, which was costly. Steve Nash looked old and played terribly in this series. He had four 4th quarter turnovers and had only 11 points and 4 assists in the team's most important game of the season. Were the critics right in their assessment of the O'Neil and Kidd acquisitions? Maybe. In other action, Tracy McGrady kept the Rockets' heads above water in blowout fashion and the Pistons finally asserted themselves on the Sixers. Three of four picks correct in yesterday's picks that are sure to wrong playoff close-out edition, as for tonight, the Mighty C's find their way back to the light at home in dominant fashion over the cagey Hawks and the Cavaliers close-out the Wizards.

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers."-José Narosky

Since April 9, the news media's continual obsession with all things Clinton and Obama has not waned. The all-important Pennsylvania primary, which is part of the great year long distraction that is the 2008 presidential campaign, finally took place last week. What did it settle? Nothing, Senator Clinton gained a mere 10 delegates. The developments in the Jeremiah Wright saga are captivating the minds of everyone. So much so, that we cannot possibly talk about anything or anybody else. Also, since April 9, 17 Americans have died in the only story, if it were a story, that is more frustrating than the presidential election, the Iraq War. Another bit of news that might shock those who think that Afghanistan is a desert oasis of democracy, two Americans have died in that war during this same period. To date, 4,528 Americans have perished in these wars with no objective and no end in sight. If the media cannot spare a mere moment of the latest thing Jeremiah Wright said to talk about those that die in this senseless war, I will continue to do it here:

1. Spec. William E. Allmon of Ardmore, Oklahoma was 25 years old when he died in an IED attack in Baghdad on April 12.
2. Lance Cpl. Dean D. Opicka of Waukesha, Wisconsin was 29 years old when he was killed in combat in Anbar province on April 14.
3. Cpl. Richard J. Nelson of Racine, Wisconsin was 23 years old when he was killed in combat in Anbar province on April 14.
4. Sgt. Joseph A. Richard, III of Lafayette, Louisiana was 27 years old when he died in an IED attack in Baghdad on April 14.
5. Spec. Arturo Huerta-Cruz of Clearwater, Florida was 23 years old when he died in an IED attack in Tuz on April 14.
6. Cpl. Kyle W. Wilks of Rogers, Arkansas was 24 years old when he died in combat operations in Kandahar province, Afghanistan on April 15.
7. 1st Sgt. Luke J. Mercardante of Athens, Georgia was 35 years old when he died in combat operations in Kandahar province, Afghanistan on April 15.
8. Staff Sgt. Jason L. Brown of Mangolia, Texas was 29 years old when he died after his unit was attacked in Sama Village on April 17.
9. Spec. Benjamin K. Brosh of Colorado Springs, Colorado was 22 years old when he died on April 18 from wounds suffered in an IED attack in Paliwoda.
10. Spec. Lance O. Eaks of Apex, North Carolina was 25 years old when he died in an IED attack in Baghdad on April 18.
11. Petty Officer 1st Class Cherie L. Morton of Bakersfield, California was 40 years old when she died in Iraq on April 20. The cause of her death is currently under investigation.
12. Sgt. Adam J. Kohlhaas of Perryville, Missouri was 26 years old when he died in an IED attack in Bayji on April 21.
13. Spec. Steven J. Christofferson of Cudahy, Wisconsin was 20 years old he died in an IED attack in Bayji on April 21.
14. 1st Lt. Matthew R. Vandergrift of Littleton, Colorado was 28 years old when he died in combat operations in Basra on April 21.
15. Airman Apprentice Adrian Compos of El Paso, Texas was 22 years old when he was found dead in Dubai due to a non-combat related incident on APril 21.
16. Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale of Burkeville, Virginia was 21 years old when he died in combat operation in Anbar province on April 22.
17. Lance Cpl. Jordan C. Haerter of Sag Harbor, New York was only 19 years old when he died in combat operations in Anbar province on April 22.
18. Pvt. Ronald R. Harrison of Morris Plains, New Jersey was 25 years old when he died of a non-combat related injury on April 22.
19. Pfc. John T. Bishop of Gaylord, Michigan was 22 years old when he died in a vehicle incident in Golden Hills on April 23.
    

This Was Not Supposed To Happen...

The scrappy Atlanta Hawks will not go away. Last night, behind 35 by Joe Johnson and 28 by Josh Smith, the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference drew even with the Mighty C's. It is hard to imagine this continues into Wedensday's Game 5, but we all thought there was no way the Warriors could dismantle the 67-win Dallas Mavericks a year ago at this time. In other action, the heartless Denver Nuggets were swept by the Lakers, which could not have surprised anyone who watched five minutes of that series. Why this franchise is bringing back George Karl as head coach is inexplicable. This team has two of the top four scorers in the league and arguably the league's best defensive player and this is the best they can do? Also, in the NBA TV Invitational, the Magic finished off the Raptors in a series watched by seven people. It is not clear why the NBA thinks that people would not want to see these games (only one game was not on NBA TV). Dwight Howard had his third 20-20 game of the series, making him the first player to do that since Wilt Chamberlain. Yes, Wilt Chamberlain. Tonight will be close out night in New Orleans, San Antonio, and Utah with the Pistons finally taking a series lead in Detroit over the surprising Sixers. Hopefully the second round will be a bit more intriguing than the first.

My current projection-Celtics over Lakers

Whoa Baby!!

Meet Cliff Lee. Cliff is the best pitcher in baseball. After a terrible season last year where he only made 20 starts (5-8, 6.29), Cliff is clearly feeling a whole lot better. Granted it is early, but Cliff's numbers are so impressive through his first four starts that they are worth our attention. He is 4-0 with an ERA of 0.28. That is not a typo, it is a 0, not a 1, 2, 3, or 4 (or 8 if you happen to be Eric Gagne) in front of the .28. He has struck out 29 in 31 innings, allowing 1 earned run, while only walking 2 batters and allowing 11 hits. To put this into perspective, the disreputable Eric Gagne has allowed 16 base runners in only 10.2 innings, while Cliff has allowed only 13 in 31 innings. Obviously this cannot last, he will probably go out and pitch terribly on Wednesday against Seattle, but it is worth noting.

What Are You Talking About Madame?

Anyone who watched coverage of the Clinton campaign last night heard the new talking point:

"After last night's decisive victory in Pennsylvania, more people have voted for Hillary than any other candidate, including Sen. Obama."

Really? That doesn't make sense to me. The press release continues:

"Estimates vary slightly, but according to Real Clear Politics, Hillary has received 15,095,663 votes to Sen. Obama's 14,973,720, a margin of more than 120,000 votes. ABC News reported this morning that "Clinton has pulled ahead of Obama" in the popular vote."

So the Clinton campaign is correct, the media is in the bag for Senator Obama. They have been providing us false data all along to make us believe it was over. The release concludes:

"This count includes certified vote totals in Florida and Michigan."

Oh, you mean that state where there was no campaigning in January (when Obama was still relatively unknown) and that other state where Senator Clinton's name was the only one on the ballot? This argument is so dumb I could scream. Why would you include these in your campaign propaganda. Michigan is much easier, 40% voted Uncommitted when the only names appearing on the ballot were Senators Clinton and Gravel and Representative Kucinich. Basically, they are adding over 300,000 votes to the Senators total while giving Senator Obama 0. That definitely helps one's cause when working from behind. As far as Florida goes, one might argue that Senator Clinton would have a marked advantage in an election held in January where the voters were essentially voting on name recognition alone. Remember, back then she was not nearly as annoying as she is today. So basically these numbers are nonsense, a ruse used to make people think her candidacy is alive and well, when it fact it's existence seems to hinge on deception. Thus another black mark on the Clinton candidacy. See this release here. If one was wondering how in-touch the Clinton campaign is with Democratic Party primary voters, see hyper-Clintonian Terry McAuliffe in the video below:

Diamond Dust: The Tigers Have a Pulse and the Crappy Cardinals Rear Their Ugly Head

It is amazing how much easier it is to win when you hit. The Tigers have finally realized this in winning 3 in a row and 7 of their last 10. It is safe to say that two weeks from now the teams that are currently fourth and fifth respectively in the AL Central (Detroit and Cleveland) will probably be at the top, as the White Sox, Royals, and Twins have already started to fade into oblivion. The Not-So Crappy Cardinals are trying their hardest not to morph into the Crappy Cardinals, but losing 6 out of 10 will not help. The team ERA is slowly ticking upward (still 6th in all of baseball at a respectable 3.72). This team's ability to pitch has been its diagnosed issue, thus this trend is concerning. Mark Mulder is making rehab starts and could be back soon. Needless to say I am not holding my breath. Other points of intrigue include:

• Baltimore, Oakland, Chicago White Sox, and Florida continue to play way above their heads.
• The Phillies have the two best players in the league right now--Chase Utley is hitting .368 with 10 HR/21 RBI and Pat Burrell is hitting .351 with 8 HR/23 RBI.
• Brandon Webb and the Diamondbacks are attempting to run away and hide--Despite Johan Santana and Jake Peavy, Brandon Webb reminds us that he is pretty good too (5-0/2.31 ERA/29 K) and the Diamondbacks have found that pop that yours truly said did not exist and are 6 games up in a seemingly very overrated NL West.
• John Smoltz got to 3,000 K's, imagine how many he might had he not had to pitch out the bullpen for three seasons. In mentioning the great NL pitchers above, I failed to mention the guy who tops that impressive list. No one is enjoying a better start to the season than Old Man Smoltz. He is 3-1 with a .79 ERA and has struck out 31 in only 23 IP.

Check out LWAL's Senior Baseball Correspondent's take here.

Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant Are MVP-ish

To date, the first round of the NBA playoffs have been mildly uneventful. With the exception of the Sixers' shocking Game 1 win in Detroit, everything has gone according to the script. The only series where the higher seed is not leading (or tied if you are the Pistons) is the Utah-Houston series, but Tracey McGrady never wins in the playoffs so this should not be surprising. We can begin to formulate answers to the questions we considered here the other day. The Hornets do not appear to have stage fright in their maiden voyage into the playoffs, as they have dominated the veteran-laden Dallas Mavericks in the first two games. The Spurs are not too old, winning the best game of playoffs thus far in double OT in Game 1 and dominating in Game 2 against Phoenix. This current Phoenix team could go down as the best team to never win a title in the annals of NBA history. The Mighty C's are fantastic and have refused to play down to the Hawks level (a good young team, but not playoff caliber by any stretch of the imagination). The Lakers are as good as advertised and the Pistons seem to be about as good as one might expect, Game 1 not withstanding. While the series' have been anti-climatic thus far, there have been countless utterly ridiculous individual performances worth noting, here are the five best to date:

1. Kobe Bryant: 40.5 ppg/5.5 apg/5.2 rpg/50% FG--Had 49 last night and 32 in Game 1 after a very slow start. He is the best basketball player on the planet, no questions asked.
2. Chris Paul: 33.5 ppg/13.5 apg/3.5 spg/64% FG--Proved that his playoff debut was not a fluke (35 points, 10 assist, 4 steals) by playing even better in Game 2 (32 points, 17 assists, 3 steals). He is easily the best point guard in the league and should be the MVP (Kobe will win it).
3. Dwight Howard: 27 ppg/21 rpg/4 bpg/66% FG--A basketball insider close to LWAL asked last night if Howard could get to 100 points/100 rebounds in only 5 games? He could, but I do not know if this series will go that long. Like Paul, a stellar playoff debut for one the league's brightest burgeoning stars.
4. LeBron James: 31 ppg/7.9 rpg/7.2 apg/55% FG--Has been somewhat overlooked this season with the play of Bryant and Paul, but the NBA's scoring champ has been sensational thus far and has made what should have been a tough series seem easy through two games.
5. Tim Duncan: 29 ppg/16 rpg/ 3 bpg/55 % FG--The league's most unselfish player demonstrated his greatness in Game 1 with 40, 15, and 5 and hit a clutch three-pointer that sent the game into overtime.

My current projection: Celtics over Lakers

Still Hoping...

The people in Pennsylvania finally voted yesterday, putting an end to the longest 6 weeks of any one's life who has invested as much time and energy into this never ending process as I have. What does Senator Clinton's 55%-45% victory mean? Little, it would seem. These gains will be negated in two weeks when she loses North Carolina by a similar margin (probably a little more). Indiana also votes that day and that is shaping up to be a close race that has far-reaching implications for the viability of the Clinton candidacy. Her major hurdle at this point (besides the insurmountable delegate lead for Senator Obama) is money. Shortly after claiming victory last night she made a direct plea to the electorate to send money. Have all of her big donors already given the max? The Clinton campaign is hoping that the ultra annoying super delegates will come to her aid in the 11th hour and put her over the top at the convention. Has the time not come for these party elites to throw their collective hat in the ring and get behind someone? I realize that everyone wants to pick the winner and not alienate themselves from a job opportunity in a potential Obama or Clinton White House, but there might be no Obama or Clinton White House at this rate. While these candidates continually go back and forth sniping over nothing, the crazy right (yeah I am talking you Hannity) continues to try and link Senator Obama to the words of every person he has ever known. Personally, I believe this tactic backfires in the end, as an overly aggressive attack campaign on an individual ultimately turns them into a victim in the eyes of those that are less fanatical about their politics (see the end of the Clinton presidency for an example). This has to end at some point, right? I do not mind Senator Clinton staying in the race, but I do mind the tone of her campaign. When she starts coming across as a mouthpiece for the GOP in her attacks, it is a little disconcerting. Thus is political discourse in the 21st century, we can only hope that it improves...

Pennsylvanians speak out:
-For the take of LWAL's Senior Clinton Aficionado (he is really old, John McCain old, senior has nothing to do with the value of his opinions), go here.
-For a Howard Beale-esqe rebuke of the Pennsylvania electorate, go here.
-For a more moderately disappointed take, go here.

To Juice Or Not To Juice...

After blowing another save yesterday against the Not-So Crappy Cardinals, Eric Gagne has now blown three of nine save opportunities this season and has an ERA of 8.31. Right now, he is so inept that he makes the injured Joe Borowski seem like Rollie Fingers comparatively. This guy needs a shot in the arm at this point in his career. Literally, he needs an injection of those steroids that fooled many into believing he was a legitimate big league closer between 2002 and 2004. And not those B-12 shots that Miguel Tejada was passing out in the Orioles clubhouse or that weak flax seed oil that the same trainer gave to both Barry Bonds and Gary Sheffield. He needs the hard stuff, the kind that took Lyle Alzado's life prematurely. Gagne's 84 straight saves and 2003 Cy Young Award are as legitimate as Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds' combined 1,345 home runs. During the aforementioned period where he was consistently injecting himself with steroids, Gagne converted 157 out of 163 save opportunities, appearing in an average of 75 games a year over this three year span. Since the 2004 season, Gagne's right arm has broken down about as often as my old 1984 Chrysler LeBaron used to. Since the juice has run dry, Gagne has converted 31 of 38 save opportunities and appeared in only 80 games total. For those of us that were on to this guy from the get-go, it is nice to watch him struggle now that he is playing at the same level as others.

With the First Pick in the 2008 NFL Draft...

As a longtime Pathetic Phins fan, last season was insufferable. When the season's high point is a Greg Camarillo (who?) touchdown reception, it is a bad, bad season. This team needs to upgrade at every position, but offensive line has been a glaring need for several years. It would have been better to trade the pick, but no one wants the first pick because of the ridiculous money required to sign first round picks, espeically the top pick overall. The majority of these new millionaires will be busts and never heard from. The NBA has the best approach to signing rookies. There is certainly nothing sexy about drafting an offensive lineman with the first pick, but the Ram's choice to draft Orlando Pace in 1997 seemed to work out pretty well for that franchise. Long is the safe pick and should at least be a competent offensive lineman in the NFL. The big question for this team is who will Mr. Long be blocking for? Josh McCown is currently the leader in the clubhouse (35 TD/40 INT in 6 seasons), which is no less exciting than having Cleo Lemon start for you (I am glad this guy is gone). John Beck was terrible last year as a rookie and does not inspire confidence and and no one who did not go to the University Wyoming has heard of Casey Bramlet. Personally, I would like to see them take a guy like Chad Henne, Joe Flacco, or, if available, Brian Brohm (remember when this guy was going to be the top pick) with the first pick in the second round because the collection of clowns that currently occupy the quarterback spot on this roster are backups in the Arena League.

17 is Currently My Favorite Number

With the start of the NBA playoffs, my earliest NBA memory comes to mind, the Celtics eliminating the Rockets in the 1986 NBA finals. It was the 16th title for that storied franchise. A franchise that has failed to live up to a high standard ever since. There is sharp contrast between East and West. While the latter is loaded with many intriguing match-ups, the former has only one. There are many questions. Are the Hornets too young? Are the Spurs too old? Are the Mighty C's too good? Are the Jazz able to win on the road? Are the Lakers as good as advertised? Are the Pistons underrated? I have no idea, but it will be great fun to find out. Here are some picks sure to be wrong, NBA Playoff Edition:
_
Celtics over Hawks, 4-0
Cavs over Wiz, 4-2
Pistons over Sixers, 4-1
Magic over Raptors, 4-3

Hornets over Mavs, 4-2
Lakers over Denver, 4-1
Spurs over Suns, 4-3
Jazz over Rockets, 4-3

My current projection-Celtics over Lakers

"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind."-John F. Kennedy

Given what the media chooses to cover and not cover, one might believe the talking points that all is well in the Iraq War. With Barack Obama Controversy Contrived by the Media #24, What in the World Did Jeremiah Wright Say Part XX, Where in the World Is John McCain Version 7.5, or When Clinton Attacks (Last Updated April 2008), it is not hard to understand why an actual war, with actual bullets and bombs, where actual people die, not just reputations, is relegated to the back burner. The presidential campaign has devolved into disreputable verbal warfare with John McCain and Hillary Clinton allying in an attempt take out the superpower, Barack Obama (see here). It has become so annoying that I am no longer able to formulate cogent thoughts to write about on the campaign. A story out of Iraq this morning tells us that 52 Iraqis died in two car bomb attacks (read here). I know what you are thinking, they are Iraqi, who cares? But where Iraqis are dying is the same place where Americans are dying. And what about those Americans that are dying? Turn on Countdown, the O'Reilly Factor, Hannity & Colmes, Hardball, listen to Rush Limbaugh, read the Weekly Standard, or go to nationalreview.com, who is talking about these Americans? The left uses the war as a means to demonize the Bush administration and the right looks the other way and espouses the virtues of the war and how much fun it is to live in Iraq these days. Soldiers do not choose where they want to go, they merely do what they are told.

Over the last seven days, seven Americans have died in Iraq, bringing the total 4,507. Maj. Mark E. Rosenburg, 32 years old from Miami Lakes, Florida, died in an IED attack in Baghdad on April 8. Staff Sgt. Jeffrey L. Hartley, 25 from Hempstead, Texas, died in an IED attack in Kharguliah on April 8. Jacob J. Fairbanks, 22 from St. Paul, Minnesota, died from injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident in Baghdad on April 9. Sgt. Jesse A. Ault, 28 from Dublin, Virginia, was killed in an IED attack in Tunnis on April 9. Sgt. Shaun P. Tousha, 30 from Hull, Texas, died on April 9 from injuries suffered in an IED attack in Baghdad. Tech Sgt. Anthony L. Capra, 31 from Hanford, California, died in an IED attack in an undisclosed location on April 9. And Spec. Jeremiah C. Hughes, 26 from Jacksonville, Florida, died from injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident in Abu Gharab. I will continue to use this space to humanize the war by making the sacrifices of those who have died for no good reason known.

Diamond Dust: The Tigers and Mets are Making Me Look Like an Idiot

What do Baltimore, Kansas City, Oakland, Florida, St. Louis, and Arizona have in common? No, they are not all stops on George Michael's comeback tour this summer (anyone who pays for that is an idiot). These are the teams that currently reside at the top of their respective divisions two weeks into the long baseball season. Of course it is too early, who can forget the Nationals magical run in the first half of the 2005 season. On July 25 the Nationals were tied with the Braves for first place (after leading for several weeks) in a weak NL East, before going on to finish in the cellar, nine games back. In that same season, the Baltimore Orioles were in first place in the always tough AL East, four games ahead of the utterly irritating Boston Red Sox on June 1. By season's end, they were in fourth, 22 games behind the super annoying Yankees. The point is, things will change. The Royals will not continue to pitch lights out (a league best 2.46 ERA, almost a run better than the Diamondbacks and Cardinals). The Tigers will start hitting (a pitiful, league low 33 runs scored thus far). And the Mets will start winning (the health of the rotation is question mark). The Not-So Crappy Cardinals continue to pitch well and hit well enough to win, making their 9-4 start a truly pleasant surprise to yours truly.

A few other not-so bold predictions for this season, Jason Kendall (.405) and AJ Pierzynski (.421) will not win their respective league's batting titles. Justin Germano (0.00), Cliff Lee (0.61), Edwin Jackson (0.64), Ryan Dempster (0.69), Zack Greinke (0.75), Cole Hamels (0.82), Brian Bannister (0.86), and Kyle Lohse's (1.04) collective assault on Bob Gibson's 1.13 ERA will last about another five minutes. And Ryan Ludwick will neither finish the year hitting closer to .350 than .250 nor with a slugging percentage higher than Pujols (.800 to Pujols' .707). Random point that makes one's head spin-Justin Upton has yet to turn 21.

For more inane musings on baseball, see LWAL's resident baseball insider here.

61 Years Ago Today...

Today marks the 61st anniversary of Jackie Robinson getting the call to the major leagues. On this date in 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers called him up from their Triple-A affiliate, the Montreal Royals. He would debut five days later against the Boston Braves. Despite being subjected to continued harrassment by fans and players, even those on his own team, throughout the season, Robinson perservered and went on to be the NL Rookie of the Year. Credit is due to the Dodgers organization, the then commissioner (Happy Chandler), and NL president (Ford Frick) for standing up to the overwhelming prejudice of the day and helping to soften the rigid racial divide that had its grasp on the United States since its inception. It is worth noting that baseball was ahead of the curve when it came to integration, as the United States military would not be integrated by President Truman until 1948.

Joe Borowski is Not Good at Being a Closer

The Indians have one major weakness and it is the right arm of Joe Borowski. You could make a case that Borowski should not be saving games for any team in the majors, but he is, for a team many picked to win the AL. Last night provides exhibit A, as he managed to give up a walk-off grand slam to Torii Hunter. For any other closer, I would chalk it up to one bad game early in the season. But Borowski is terrible. In saving 45 games last season, his ERA was 5.07. As the Indians closer the past two years, he has saved 81 games while blowing 15 save opportunites. If one were to hit 81 out 96 free throws in the NBA they would be considered a very good free throw shooter, but when you save 81 of 96 opportunities in the big leagues, you should be pitching in the minors. I take pity on all who have this clown on their fantasy team.

My Patience Has Run Out

General Petraues made a return trip to Capitol Hill today to update Congress and the American people about the never-ending saga that is the Iraq War. In anticipation of the general's testimony, every news outlet characterized what we were to hear from the top American military commander the same way, apparently he was going to urge patience with regard to the Iraq War. The patience of we the people has been sought since the days after 9/11. In his radio address four days after the attacks of September 11, the president claimed, "[t]he message is for everybody who wears the uniform: get ready. The United States will do what it takes to win this war. And I ask patience of the American people." In his address to the nation on October 7, 2001 announcing the beginning of combat operations in Afghanistan, the president claimed that "[i]n the months ahead, our patience will be one of our strengths -- patience with the long waits that will result from tighter security; patience and understanding that it will take time to achieve our goals; patience in all the sacrifices that may come." When asked in a June 2003 press conference about the lack of findings with regard to Saddam Hussein's imaginary WMD arsenal, then White Press Secretary, Ari Fleischer, said "I think what it suggests is the need for patience." In his September 6, 2006 radio address, the president continued to ask for patience, claiming, "[t]he path to victory will be uphill and uneven, and it will require more patience and sacrifice from our Nation. " A White House Fact Sheet released in association with the fourth anniversary of the Iraq War in March 2007, entitled "Four Years Later: New Strategy Requires Patience and Determination," claims that "achieving our goals will require patience and determination." What are our goals?

If anyone was hoping that General Petraeus would be able to help us figure this out through his testimony today, I am sorry to report, he did not. His call for a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation" where troop withdrawals are suspended with no timetable for their renewal is a very unwelcome development in this nonsensical war. It would appear that "stay the course" will be the Bush policy for the remainder of his presidency. To date, 4,514 Americans have died in the president's War on Terror. And given the testimony of his top general, it appears that the American commitment to Iraq will not end any time soon.

Unfortunately, those that serve and die for a lost cause are not given their due by the media. Maybe if there wasn't a presidential campaign to cover, the media could take 15 seconds and mention that Sgt. Terrell W. Gilmore from Baton Rouge died in an IED attack in Baghdad or that Maj. William G. Hall from Seattle died while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province on March 30. Maybe if the coverage of every person Senator Obama knew while living in Chicago were not so important, Fox News would take time to remind people of the service of Spc. Durrell Bennet and Pfc. Patrick J. Miller, 22 and 23 years old respectively and both from New Port Richey, Florida, who died from wounds suffered in a March 29 IED attack in Baghdad. Maybe if MSNBC could take a break from over-analyzing and rehashing every mistake made by the Bush administration, they might find time to do a short segment on Sgt. Jevon K. Jordan of Norfolk, Virginia, who died on March 29 from wounds suffered in an IED attack in Abu Jassim. If only the cable news king himself, Bill O'Reilly, could squeeze in a brief report on Spc. Joshua A. Molina from Houston in-between the latest all-important body language segment and "Miller Time." Spc. Molina was 20 years old when he was struck down by an IED in Baghdad on March 27. But those of you who watch Mr. O'Reilly know that the body language of politicians and celebrities, as well as the inane witticisms of a comedian turned political commentator are very important to maintaining the number one rated cable news show. The list continues to grow. If I had more time I could mention the service of Pvt. George Delgado, Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Hake, Pfc. Andrew J. Habseiger, Spc. Jose A. Rubio Hernandez, Sgt. Thomas C. Ray II, Spc. David S. Stelmat, and Sgt. David B. Williams, all of whom have died in Iraq since March 22. All of those who claim that it is better in Iraq view the world only in the reds and blues of the political spectrum. I will counter such claims by saying that any day where a single member of the U.S. military dies trying to Americanize a country in the center of the Middle East does not constitute better. The fact remains that since February, the violence has increased, but thus is the nature of asymmetrical warfare. President Bush and General Petraeus might seek my patience when it comes to the Iraq War and the forgotten thousands who still fight and die in Afghanistan, but my patience ran out long ago...

*Credit to Chris-Floyd for the photo.

Diamond Dust: The Not-So Crappy Cardinals Edition

If only everything that happened in the first week of the MLB season held true through October. Of course, if this were the case, the Devil Rays and Royals might have met for three or four pennants over the past five years. Two surprises stand out from week one. First is the play of the Detroit Tigers. In picking the Tigers to win the World Series, I never envisioned a scenario where they won the Central running away or started the year 15-0. But I did think they might manage a single win in six games against the Royals and the White Sox. They have the worst pitching in the AL thus far (5.30 team ERA) and have scored more runs than only the Giants and Rockies. The lack of offensive production is particularly alarming. Ordonez is hitting .280, Renteria .231, Jones .214, Sheffield .200, Cabrera .111, and Polanco .087. Collectively, these guys have combined for one home run (Cabrera). Who leads this run scoring juggernaut in home runs and RBIs? Brandon Inge with two and four respectively. It is early and there is a 100% chance that the Royals and White Sox will choke away their early lead.

The second and much more important development thus far is the play of the Not-So Crappy Cardinals. It is worth noting that this designation will changed based on the ebb and flow of the season. The Cardinals have the second best team ERA in the league? No, that cannot be right. Let me check that again...Apparently it is true (proof here). The Cardinals are 5-1 with their only loss being the Troy Glaus error game. The starters have been nothing short of amazing thus far:

1. Adam Wainwright: 1-0/8 IP/2.25 ERA
2. Kyle Lohse: 1-0/12 IP/0.00 ERA
3. Braden Looper: 1-0/6 IP/1.50 ERA
4. Todd Wellemeyer: 1-0/5 IP/1.80 ERA
5. Brad Thompson: 1-0/6 2/3 IP/0.00 ERA

If only MLB adopted a 16 game schedule like the NFL. In going 5-1, Pujols only has only one RBI, but Ankiel has picked up the slack with 3 home runs and 6 RBIs. Also, Brian Barton (who?) has emerged as a decent option in the lead-off spot and Yadier Molina is off to his best start as a pro. Will this last? No. I am fairly certain that Barton won't be threatening Nap Lajoie's .426 (he is currently hitting .455) and Kyle Lohse will give up at least one run in his next start. But, could this team stay competitive until C.C. comes back after the all-star break, in a division that features Eric Gagne (the no-steroids version) and Kerry Wood as closers? Possibly, it is the NL Central, first team to 85 wins gets the crown...

Oh, To Be a Tarheel Fan in the Month of April

UNC and losing in the Final Four go together like Lucky Charms and 2% milk. For the 13th time in 17 chances, UNC has gone to the Final Four and not come away with a national championship. As a fan, this loss was particularly difficult to stomach coming on the heels (no pun intended) of last years' devastating collapse against G'town. Also this particular team, much like the one that preeded it and won it all, is very likable with the likes of the nation's best player, Danny Green Marcus Ginyard, Ty Lawson, and Wayne Ellington. These guys are fun to watch. One can hold out hope that the big three will decide to stay, but this seems unlikely. It is hard to imagine Hansbrough, Lawson, or Ellington amounting to anything more than bench players in the NBA, but this does not usually weigh into the thinking when guys go pro. As for the game, Kansas played 15 of the most perfect basketball a team has ever played in jumping out to 40-12 advantage. Personally, I have never seen such a combination of exceptional shooting and suffocating defense played, even if for a short period of time. UNC roared back but ran out of energy late. Another Final Four, another loss. In the other semifinal, Memphis pulled a mild upset in defeating the UCLA, thus three consecutive trips to the Final Four and no championship for the Bruins. Tonight's game should be fantastic, but the semifinal games were supposed to be fantastic and we see how they ended up. With that, I make my final projection and if it's like my others, it will probably be wrong.

My final projection-Kansas over Memphis

Let Us Continue to Dream

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.

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Today marks the unfortunate anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. forty years ago in Memphis. While King was not the only one to dream, he was arguably the most important. The list of most important Americans in the 20th century begins and ends with King, there is no debate to be had on this point. King's work in the 1950's and 1960's was the embodiment of those that came before him and who are oftentimes lost in the annals of history. Frederick Douglas, Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. Wells, and many others started the process that Dr. King brought to fruition through events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and Bloody Sunday at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. His 1963 "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (read here) remains the most eloquent call for change penned in the English language since the Declaration of Independence. In it he wrote:

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"In no sense do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law."

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He took Jim Crow on directly and did not stop until this cruel instrument of hatred and inequality, which contradicted the founding principles of this country, was finally laid to rest. As America continues to develop into the 21st century, it is difficult to look around and not appreciate King's life's work. Social change is always slow, but there is plenty of evidence that shows that the racial divide that has been an integral part of the American experience since the first Africans were brought to this continent in the early part of the 17th century is slowly, but surely, receding. There is no better proof of this than the fact that a black man is currently the favorite to become the nominee of a major political party. Let us stop viewing race as taboo. Let us stop viewing race through a prism of the Jeremiah Wrights and Al Sharptons of the world. Let us stop telling people that events that happened less than 50 years ago are no longer important and have no bearing on a discussion of race in the 21st century. While there is still a ways to go, I would like to think that as Dr. King looks down from the mountaintop, he is currently smiling.

Diamond Dust: Glaus' Glove and Pedro's Pain

Last night was probably an indication of what is to come for my beloved Cardinals. Kyle Lohse pitched five shutout innings taking a no-decision, as the Cards could manage only one run (on a Molina solo home run). For the games, the beleaguered pitching staff allowed zero earned runs. So, if the Cards have one and the pitching gives up zero "earned" runs how did they lose you ask? Let us go to the new "star" third baseman for the answer to your query. A Troy Glaus error in the eighth allowed two unearned runs to score. On Rolen's worst days over the past two season, when he could seemingly not hit the ball out of the infield, he always played a solid third base. Pair this error with his 0-4 at the dish and it is safe to say that this was not the best debut. I hated this acquisition, thus last night's game was particularly irritating. This team will be lucky if it scores 200 runs this season. I will just close my eyes and remember this. Also last night, the Marlins beat the Mets in dramatic fashion when Robert Andino (who?) hit a tenth inning walk-off home run, the first of his brief career. The story was Pedro's strained hamstring, which forced him to leave the game in the fourth after only 57 pitches. When he was out last season, I thought he seemed to have lost his edge and I will be curious to see how he responds. Other random thoughts from the season's first few days include Peavy and Johan starting their Cy Young duel in good order with an edge to JP after Round 1 and the guy I proclaimed to be the best closer in baseball, J.J. Putz blew a save opportunity on the season's second day. Granted it is early to get worried about these things, but what fun would the first week of the baseball season be if we couldn't say things like Jim Thome is on pace to hit 324 home runs and drive in 648 runs. Actually people that do this are annoying, the beginning of the season is plenty fun without such dumb projections...