Random links on a Wednesday morning: Baaaaad Bobby Jenks Style

So Bobby Jenks tied the MLB record for consecutive batters faced and retired. Former Giants pitcher Jim Barr held the record on his own, (he retired 41 straight and won two complete game shut-outs in the process). For one, Barr isn’t upset that Jenks could brake his record tonight.

On Monday afternoon, the former Giants pitcher didn’t seem too distressed by the prospect of imminent dismissal from the spot he has occupied in the major-league record book for 35 years. At least, that’s what he told John Smith, the head baseball coach at Sacramento State, where Barr has mentored the pitchers for the past 13 years.

“He called to see if I was in mourning,” Barr, now 59, said over the phone. “And I said no, I knew what was going on, but it doesn’t bother me.”

Well, at least us White Sox fans have something to root for, even if the team keeps losing in the process. We could cheer as Ozzie mounts a challenge to Bobby Cox’s newly-set record for ejections.

On with the links:

• Your 2006 Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year is injured… again.
• Dan Connolly of the Balitmore Sun is impressed by Scott Boras (and Boras, Inc. HQ).
• The Nats signed a high school pitcher that goes by the name of Smoker.
• Here come the St. Louis Cardinals to take over the NL Central, led by the feel-good story of the year in Rick Ankiel, and Cy-Young award candidate… Kip Wells?!
• The Indians are sellouts for selling Yankee memorabilia at the Jake. Hell Yea they sold out (and cashed in).

• Terrence Moore, the sports columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution had a friendly chat with Jack McKeon. The former Marlins manager doesn’t think the Braves can win it all. Terrence, of course, doesn’t agree:

Although Jack McKeon is wrong about the next king of the National League East, the accomplished manager of yore is right about everything else along the way to the divisional throne.

Gee, Terrence, how can you be so sure the Braves will win the Pennant?

I mean, with apologies to McKeon, the Braves will overcome Andruw Jones’ microscopic batting average. They will survive the significant holes on their pitching staff. They will discover ways to have as much energy in the division against the little boys of Florida and Washington as they do against the big boys of New York and Philadelphia. They will return tonight to Turner Field against the San Francisco Giants after splitting six games on the road with the Mets and the Phillies to sharpen their focus for the stretch drive.

They will win the division.