Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon has a new hairdo. And it is the most awesomest thing EVER!!!

Apparently, the haircut is the result of a bet between Papelbon and everybody’s favorite jackass, Kevin Youkilis.

That’s one of those damn things you get pissed off about.

Javier Vazquez was working a perfect game until the fourth. He had Matt Stairs on a 0-2 count and then walked him. Fine, no-hitter still in place.

Fourth, fifth, and sixth innings go without a hint of a base hit. Maybe the third out in the sixth, but Juan Uribe made a leaping catch at short.

So I fire up my text editor to begin this post, get ready with the screen capture software to illustrate that magical moment that I foresee. But I didn’t jinx him (or did I). I started thinking about the no-hitter in the third inning, and thought about blogging it two innings later.

It’s still the seventh. One out, Doug Mientkiewicz at the plate. Weak-ass check-swing, roller up third base line. Hits the bag, base hit.

Damn. At least Thome scored a run in the game, and he has scored a run in every White Sox game this season.

Sox win 4-0, Royals on a 10-game losing streak.

Here is the English text for that interview I had with the Braves’ shortstop.

Courtesy Revista Elite Magazine

You’re back in the National League after a rough year in Boston. How does it feel to come back to the NL?
I’m excited to return. I’m far more comfortable with this league. I’m also looking forward to the season since I had a good spring training and because everyone has been very welcoming here.

So you take the National over the American league?
Yeah, I feel at home here, with the team and with my teammates. They do a good job of giving you whatever you need to get ready to start the season on the right foot.

So is it true that whenever a hitter switches between leagues it’ll affect his approach?
Yea, that is true. When you switch leagues you have no clue as to what’s going on over there. I went through that; I was a National League hitter, and last year it was evident. But now that I’m with the Braves I think I’ll be at the level I was at before I went to Boston.
Read the rest of this entry »

Brandon McCarthy, Chicago White Sox:
McCarthy currently serves as manager Ozzie Guillen’s darkhorse out of the bullpen. In four appearances so far this year, he has worked nine innings tallying seven strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP. In other words, the 22-year old reliever logs multiple innings per outing while establishing a K/9 ratio nearing 9.0. Can anyone say rotation? Grab onto McCarthy while he’s still available and hope that one of the White Sox starters goes down to injury - McCarthy is next in line.

Chuck James, Atlanta Braves:
James, like McCarthy, is an innings eater for Bobby Cox. He has worked two or more innings in each of his five appearances so far this year, allowing runs in only one outing (solo HR’s to Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell last week). Although his strikeout ratios have not been overwhelming, opposing batters are batting just .179 against him. With all of Atlanta’s pitching in flux, pick up James and hope that Chris Reitsma continues to blow it. James could very well be the Braves’ next option.

Scott Shields, LA Angels of Anaheim:
Shields is a set-up man that keeps his ERA down and his K/9 ratio up. What bolsters his value is his ability to factor into decisions. Over the last two years, Shields has logged 18 wins, surpassing the likes of both Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Add to those numbers 33 holds (last season) and you have yourself a mighty successful setup man. Still not sold? Angels stud closer Francisco Rodriguez is day-to-day with a tight hammy. Grab Shields now to fill out all of your stats columns.

Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres:
Few people on the east coast realize that Gonzalez is even starting, nonetheless putting up solid numbers. Ryan Klesko is out indefinitely due to shoulder surgery and word has it that the Padres aren’t too upset. Gonzalez has filled in by hitting .298 over the first two weeks, crossing the plate ten times. Although the power numbers currently aren’t there (1 HR), fantasy owners could benefit from a first basemen that plays everyday, scores runs and hits for average. Start a trend and pick up Gonzalez now. You will wow your league with west coast fantasy expertise and also benefit from Gonzalez’s ever improving numbers.

Craig Wilson, Pittsburgh Pirates:
Wilson is another quality bat that many fantasy owners have overlooked. He’s expected to act as the Pirates’ everyday first baseman with Sean Casey going on the disabled list with two fractures in his lower back. In fourteen games this season, Wilson is batting .297 with six homers and an astronomical slugging percentage of .865. This is the same Craig Wilson that belted 29 homeruns in 155 games in 2004. With that track record, Wilson should be good for another 10+ homers while Casey misses at least six to eight weeks with the gruesome injury.

Here’s Boston Metro columnist Sarah Green’s newest rant, which praises Sox first baseman David Ortiz.

Seriously, is there anything not to like about Ortiz?

There’s a great story in Slate today about the songs that closers choose to accompany them when they enter a game.

I love that the whole phenomenon was pretty much pioneered by Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn, a fictional character in that classic baseball movie, Major League.

 And I really, really love that Smoltz’s song was, for a short time, Abba’s “Dancing Queen.” So appropriate.

Say it ain’t so, J-Bo.

Nationals GM Jimmy Bowden was pulled over this weekend and charged with drinking and driving.

Talk about a guy bent on sabotaging his own career. How would you rank the following list of Bowden Blunders?

1. Worked as baseball analyst for Cold Pizza

2. Compared Players Association head Donald Fehr to Sept. 11 hijackers.

3. Traded for Alphonso Soriano

4. Signed Ken Griffey, Jr.

5. Died hair a ridiculous shade of blond after being dismissed as Reds GM in 2003.

Coley bitched at me for not posting, and though there’s been quite a number of topics to blog about, I think I’ll talk about the “juice” theory.

I wont add any more to the conversation than what your average blogger already has.

I’ll point to a couple of items, one a technorati chart on the number of times “juiced ball” has been blogged on.

Posts that contain “juiced Ball” per day for the last 30 days.

Get your own chart!

Two, The Cheat of southsidesox.com fame, posted a nice chart compiling home runs hit through the 13 of April, for the past 10 years. But before I link to it, I have to mention that the White Sox TV play-by-play man, Ken “The Hawk” Harrelson, has mentioned the “Juiced Ball” theory more than twice. His argument is that good, defensive pitchers like John Garland and Mark Buerhle will make the play on sharply hit come-backers. Both pitchers were hit in the forearm or vicinity more than once last week (I was watching the games, btw).

Anyhow, here it is.

Damn you Jeffrey Maier.

That intrusive 12 year old is “back in the news“. You remember Jeff, who reached over the rightfield wall and helped turn Derek Jeter’s ALCS game one fly ball into a game winning home run? Now he’s a senior on the baseball team at Wesleyan with a .404 avg. and dreams of becoming a major league general manager.

Great. Maybe he can hire “Steve Bartman” as a scout.

Sad, sad, sad. I remember when the VH1 “Behind the music” (why do people hate on that show?) taught me that Hammer used to be a bat boy with the Oakland A’s.

I liked “Hammer”, especially that Too Legit to Quit album. But one thing I didn’t understand was why he did a track for the Adams Family Values that wasn’t included in that album. That always made me mad.

Anyhow, all you Braves fans now have one more reason to go to the Ted instead of catching the game on Turner South. Turns out Hammer did a “rap promo” for the bravos.

Five words, too legit to come back!

Why oh, why Hammer; you done more than hurt us now!