Fouled-Off Bunts: Must Be The Brisket Edition

Ho-hum. Another day, another win. Aren't you getting tired of the monotony? No? Me neither! Let's sweep those bastahds! Reading between the lines, I don't think that Frank likes Felipe Alou, if only because he got sick of being compared to him all those years in Montreal. Think he enjoys the spankings?

Yesterday's game was the result of what happens when a deep lineup that's shown an ability to come back faces Armando Benitez. If ABe is throwing strikes, he's passable. But when he comes out throwing balls, he's garbage, and as enjoyable as it was for us, it was just as bad for Giants fans.

Astacio pitched better than his line indicated, because he had the misfortune to be relieved by Mike Stanton. When Stanton comes in with runners on base, he knows that he can give up three bases before it starts affecting his record. The man's an inherited-runner-scoring machine, which is why his already high ERA is still deceptively low.

Zimmerman and Kearns will get lots of credit for their 'clutchness', but the two unsung heroes of that inning were Bobby Fick and FLop. Fick worked the count -- as much as Benitez would allow him -- and didn't come out flailing. He let Armando get himself into trouble with a patient approach at the plate. After Soriano swung at balls 6, 7 & 8 to strike out, Lopez ripped a sharp grounder past the immobile Ray Durham, the key blow of the inning. Both were needed to set up Zimmerman's heroics, and the setup guys rarely get the credit they deserve.

STFU!!!!

Jose Vidro and Alfonso Soriano can both go to hell.

Sez Ladson: "Vidro said recently that if left fielder Alfonso Soriano is traded before the July 31 deadline, it would be a devastating blow to the franchise."

You know what a devastating blow is, Jose? The Nats paying you $8 million to be fat, out of shape, broken, immobile, and a singles hitter -- and for the next two feckin' years. We wouldn't need Soriano if you were hitting your weight (or even a fraction of it!)

Sez The Sun: "To be honest, it's tough to say I'd come back if they trade me because you know if they trade me I'm going to think that I cannot be good for this team, because they traded me, because they [do] not need me anymore," Soriano said.
Screw you, you striking-out sack of crap. If you don't want to be traded, then tell your money-grubbing agent and your money-grubbing soul that you're willing to talk extension over the next four days. Put your money where your freakin' gaping maw is or shut the hell up.

Speaking of idiots....

Former Nats' President Tony Tavares, who blindly served his MLB masters while fecking over the Nats fan base is getting his. He's being sued by Joe Deoudes, the former ticket manager of the Nats. Allegedly, Tavares slapped him. From everything I've heard/read, Tavares is a major-league quality A-hole with a temper that'd even make Robert Fick embarassed.

Were this not the ticket manager (who fecked everything up staff or no staff) I'd have more sympathy, but hopefully it results in a multi-billion-dollar settlement, paid out by Major League Baseball, the rightful owners of the team at the time of the alleged cough incident.

The City and the Lerners hate each other already. The Post profiles Mark Lerner, who's really going to be the face of the ownership group.

Frank Robinson continues to prove that he's a master motivator. I can't wait til he's gone. "Church has been there what, two games now? Escobar's been here playing how many games? Twelve games? You guys already got the center field problem all set," Robinson told reporters.

On the trade front, this is the story to watch. If the Brewers do decide to put Carlos Lee on the market, the price for Soriano goes down. Why pay $50 for a bottle of Evian if you can get the tap water for free?