After watching Jon Lester get beat after being spotted a 4-run cushion, he was less than pleased with his outing. Offering up that, "no one, will work harder than him going forward.: Also, going on record saying that "losing this game was unacceptable." Yes, he's young, but he knows when it's time to buck up and pitch. I was thoroughly impressed with the maturity and intensity of his post game commentary and I expect nothing less than what he was the last half of '08, simply dominant. Look out baseball you may have woken a sleeping giant.
On Monday evening while scrolling through the guide, or as the wife likes to call it "channel surfing" I saw that the Yankees and Twins were on ESPN. I happened to tune in during the most pivotal at bat during the game: Justin Morneau vs. Phil Coke. This is an easy one. Morneau, the hottest hitter in baseball aside from his counterpart at 1B that night, should be able to come through and tie the game for the Twinkies. I couldn't be more off base. Morneau made Coke look like Danny Almonte circa 2001 with three swings that would make David Ortiz's slump laugh.
On a side note from that game, is anyone else giggling nervously at the thought of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira heating up at the same time? I'm certainly not worried but the puddle on the floor beneath me is saying, "uh-oh." Since May 8th the Yankee 1st Baseman has been seeing more fastballs as the result of Alex Rodriguez reinsertion into the Yankee starting 9. And when you're forced to give a fastball hitter the 'Ol Numba One the people in the bleachers should take cover.
I do realize that in a previous blog I chose the Rangers to win the AL West and although I still believe they will win, if they had any pitching they would win 120 games this year with that offense. They did inquire about the oft-injured Ben Sheets during the offseason but what he can bring to the table THIS season remains to be seen. This is why Brad Penny makes a lot of sense for them, rather than a group of prospects. Although his ERA is inflated due to the abysmal start against Baltimore he has turned in 3 quality stars in a row. If he is near 10+ victories at the trade deadline he could be gone after this extended audition in Bean Town.
A completely random thought: Why are there so many strange injuries this year? Joe Mauer (Inflamed Sacroiliac Joint), Alex Rodriguez (labrum tear in hip), Rickie Weeks (Torn tendon sheath in wrist) . Can you remember a more obscure group of injuries happening in the span of 2 months?
Stay Tuned
Ryan
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