Just In From the Desert

Chris Perez has been lights out thus far.  Through his 3rd scoreless outing (today), Perez has thrown just 17 pitches over 3 innings (H, 2 K).  This bodes well, as the bullpen is widely seen as the strength of the team.

Another successful outing from Fausto Carmona today, though he did allow his first run of the spring.  The opening day starter went 3 full innings, allowing 3 hits and a walk, while inducing ground balls for 5 of his 9 outs and striking out a pair.  Every indication is that Fausto is locked in this spring and a focused Carmona is an effective Carmona.

It's still the 1st week of March, but the competition for the utility outfield spot is in full swing.  I've been outspoken on the play of Travis Buck (DNP today).  Shelley Duncan, who showed great leadership & good power last season and survived more cuts than a paper doll, has yet to play due to a pulled muscle in his back.  Chad Huffman (.455) homered off of Matt Lindstrom and sent another to the track off of Rockies' starter Jhoulys Chacin.  Ezequiel Carrera (.308, HR, 5 RBI) singled twice, scored 1 run, drove in another and made a tremendous diving catch to begin the 6th.  This early success provides the sort of dilemma that every team hopes for.

After a shaky debut, Alex White pitched a perfect 5th and a hitless 6th.  The 2009 1st rounder struck out Dexter Fowler, Ty Wigginton and Mike Jacobs, while making an excellent defensive play on a 1-out bunt in the 5th.

Lonnie Chisenhall is making it as difficult as possible for the Indians to keep their word to start him in AAA.  Chiz (.500, 3 hits today) scorched his first home run in the 6th and has looked superior at 3B.

If you're wondering why you haven't heard Rafael Perez's name this spring, it is because he has been away from the club welcoming a new Perez-let to the fold.  He is back in camp today, just as the same blessing draws Carlos Carrasco away.  Cheers to both families.

Frank Herrmann, who I'm in favor of for a bullpen spot, pitched a scoreless 9th (H, K).  He's working on adding a splitter to his everyday repertoire, which would be a nice counter to his 4-seam fastball.

I don't commonly root for the division rival ChiSox, but any true baseball fan should cheer for Jake Peavy's return.  Making his first game appearance since last June, the former NL Cy Young Award winner pitched 2 strong innings without giving up a hit.  Jake walked 1 and K'ed a pair.  Peavy is the first MLB player to return to the game after detaching his lat completely from the bone.  That hurts just to type.  ESPN's medical expert explains -



What she doesn't directly state is that Peavy's lat muscle tore off of his humerus (the bone between the elbow and shoulder) and snapped into his lower back like a broken rubber band.  Yeah.  And the dude is pitching again.  Best to you, Jake.

Split Squad for the Tribe on 03.05.  Pitchers Vs. White Sox: David Huff (starter), Jess Todd, Joe Martinez, Zach McAllister and Vinnie Pestano.  Pitchers @ Mariners (not really in Seattle, actually Peoria, AZ): Jeanmar Gomez (starter), Tony Sipp, Kelvin De La Cruz, Joe Smith, and Jensen Lewis.

Jordan Bastian had plenty of time to appear on the play-by-play webcast, so maybe he'll actually post today.  What a POS.

Flick to Click: The Fab 5

Airs March 13, 9p on ESPN.  Go here for a huge set of official ESPN Fab 5 clips.

CBA Marketing Magic

After 18 months of dread and 4 weeks on NON-STOP COVERAGE, the NFL CBA deadline has come... and passed.  Not only did both sides agree to extend the deadline 24 hours until midnite Friday, but they also saw their way to tack on an additional week.  So now the owners and the union can barter until 5pm 03.11.  Many might point to the a Federal court judge's ruling that negated the owners guaranteed $4bil in TV money regardless of a lockout as a motivating factor.  Possibly.  There is opinion and then there is fact.

FACT: The NFL is a marketing machine.  A juggernaut that has rehabilitated the image of countless reckless millionaires, the League and its franchises are recognizable and adored around the world.

FACT: The NFL is so concerned with image that it is regulating the fury of contact out of the game.

FACT: The NFL is hubristic enough to take the tradition of a Thanksgiving night game and prevent the majority of us from watching it.

FACT: The NFL has not had a work stoppage since the replacement glory of '87 (cue Footsteps Falco).

CONCLUSION (if the above are true so must this be): The NFL will do anything to further gild its perception and grow the brand.

INTERPOLATION (this logically flows from the above): The Damocles Sword of a lockout has been a ruse.  In a business where collusion is not only disregarded but is rule of law, all involved have played the hand dealt better than any could have imagined.  While MLB and the NBA have suffered dramatically from strikes/lockouts over the past 2 decades, the NFL has latched onto the massive upside of a CBA expiration: in addition to avoiding any effect to the season, keep your sport in the headlines during downtime.  While Spring Training is in full force and Selection Sunday is 9 days off, the top story remains to be the NFL.  NFL Today is still on ESPN EVERY DAY.  I'm not saying that there aren't issues that the two sides could be closer on, but this is a dog and pony show.  "Oh, we've had 2 years to work this out, but these extra 8 days will be all we need to get this done... FOR THE FANS!!"  And the Oscar goes to...  I never understood how football became America's sport anyway.  I think it must have something to do with short attention spans and one game a week.

I'm not getting fooled, Roger.  Mark my words, despite my deep and abiding wish for the opposite, THERE WILL BE NO LOCKOUT.  This is what you get when the men in the picture control the future of your game.  Go wax your mustache, Arthur Blank.  And all of you screw off.

Cheers.

Suicide Squeeze - Elite Prospects ('92 Upper Deck)

Because Their Pain Is Our Pleasure

Highlights of the Heat blowing a 24-point 3rd quarter lead and losing 99-96 to the Magic.  Miami led 73-49 with 9 minutes to go in the 3rd before Orlando went on an unbelievable 40-9 run that featured the James Gang shooting 4-of-21 from the field and 7-of-8 from the line.  Ouch.  Sweet dreams.

Pretty Girl 03.04.11 - Bianca Kajlich

Not only does she have the best name of any of the Boston Public alumni hotties, but she also makes watching that David Spade show almost bearable.