Off-day Notes

Have y’all seen Alyson Footer’s blog?

I’m throwing it a shout out because I am so enjoying the Mother’s Day luncheon pics!

First of all, that luncheon looks nicer than my wedding.

Second, I’m enjoying looking in the background of the shots.  I’ve spied Brownie.  He looks hungry.  And there’s a bunch of Japanese men seated at the table behind Russ Ortiz.  Where’s Wandy?  Can anyone find him? 

All I’m saying is, if I had Alyson Footer’s job, there’d be way more shots of JD, Brownie, and players on the bubble.  And Wandy.  This is what the people want to see!  Geez, we see Berkman all the time.

In other news, as much as I don’t look forward to hearing about Micah Owing’s offensive prowess all season (here and here), I am pumped about the Reds! 

Second in the NL Central, the Reds are the only team in our division with starting pitching good enough to challenge the Cubs long term.  It’s true that Bronson Arroyo isn’t worth his salary right now.  (Unless he’s on the road – What’s with that?)  And yes, Volquez needs to settle down.  (He will!  I believe it.) 

Even still, Cincy is on the up.  (See Cueto, Votto, and don’t look now but Taveras’s OBP is over .380!)

Yes, I’m getting on the bandwagon, and I’m getting on now.

Finally, this Onion Sports article made me chuckle.  And it caused me to look into how greedy Drayton is.  I mean, how much MLB tickets cost across the country.  I ended up happening upon this article about how greedy Drayton is.   Go figure!  Check it out and you’ll see that we consistently rank higher in revenue than we do in payroll. 

Wait – I wanted to end on a positive note.

Hey, we play the Rockies tomorrow!  At 12-18, they’re worse than we are!  And I like Paulino.  If he does well enough, I’ll write a post justifying my ridiculous confidence in this unproven arm.

WBC: This Can’t Be Happening!

What?! I didn’t even get a chance to turn on my DVR yet!

Am I gonna have to go back to my shitty soap opera?!

The Dominican Republic is OUT?!

Whoa, hold on. No more Hanley? No more Miggy? Bye bye Jose Reyes and Johnny Cueto? See you in… the regular season?!  The Netherlands has your number?!

Is there anything is the world that makes sense right now?  Please write me if you can find anything, anything at all.  I am utterly demoralized.

Go Japan?

WBC: Something to Prove

If you aren’t watching Panama v. Dominican Republic in the first round elimination game right now, you should be.

Dominicana better get their act together, or they are gonna be out early. Alternatively, Panama has a chance to advance with their first win in WBC play.

Panama’s biggest bat is the Astros’ own, Carlos Lee.

And the Dominican team has crazy talent! Cueto is on the mound. Jose Reyes is at short, Willy T. center field, Miggy at third, Fernando Tatis is playing a fine first base. He made an amazing play on a line drive in the second inning.  Other names include David Ortiz (DH), Robinson Cano (2B), Jose Guillen (RF), Miguel Olivo (C)… and Hanley Ramirez on the bench.

Unlike regular Spring fare, this is a major league level event!

So get to the couch, or the bar, or your mom’s place.  Get to a high-definition television and turn on the game!

Update:  Dominican Republic 9, Panama 0 (eliminated from WBC) 

highlights / notes of interest:

for the Dominican:  Miguel Olivo, 2HR, 5 RBI; Willy Taveras:  again runs when he shouldn’t, this time right through a stop sign at home, thrown out at the plate (3rd inning)

for Panama:  Carlos Lee went 1 for 3

In in-game interview, Moises Alou reveals that he will be attending this year’s Kentucky Derby with “my best friend in the game, Jeff Bagwell.”

Stay tuned for U.S.A. v. Venezuela