Josh Beckett Says “Why Me???”

Finally some hitting throughout, even Kottaras, picking up Wake big time. No earned runs-no decision Beckett’s gotta be thinking, “What???” Too bad they have to go on a daunting 10 game road trip now.

It occurs to me that home runs are very hard to hit, and when in doubt, the umps oughta give the benefit of the doubt to the hitter. I’m sure the replay on that absolute bomb Youk launched well above the fair pole was inconclusive, and, like Don and Dewey, the umps really just could not tell if that shot was fair or foul. So give it to him. (And it seemed from the look on Youk's face that his feelings were hurt when they didn't.)

The only good news for poor Pap was that at least he didn’t swing at that pitch Takahashi threw backwards. I guess the rule is that it’s a balk if the ball does not get past the rubber, and that if the ball slips out, but rolls forward even a few feet, it’s just a very poor pitch. The replay did show that poor Pap was thinking about swinging, though. What would have been confusing is if Pap had gone a little further into a check swing, and the catcher asked for a ruling from the third base umpire, who called it a swing, while the home plate umpire was scratching his head, and wondering, “How do I sort this out? Is it a backwards-thrown balk or a swinging strike, since I don’t want to show up my esteemed colleague, who says he went around.”

Uh-oh…speaking of Poor Pap, does anybody know the record for LOB/RBI?

I miss the Remdawg, but it is interesting to have guys like Eck and Dewey sitting in. I just wish Dewey wouldn’t get so all-fired excited, and start spouting such controversial stuff.