Just In From the Desert

The young guns continued to shine under the Arizona sun.  Drew Pomeranz threw 2 more perfect innings and struck out 3.  Making use of a heater that hits 96 and his patented "spike"-curve, Pomeranz was a knife cutting through the soft cheese of the Rockies.  Drew might be buying himself a spot at AA.  Lonnie Chisenhall (.467) might be buying himself an earlier trip north with a prolific display of hitting.  The Chiz kid bashed his 2nd home run and was a half step short of a double a liner to right.  Do not expect Chisenhall to break camp with the team, but, barring unforeseen circumstances, we're likely looking at a June recall.  I'm beginning to think that this was the Indians' plan all along.  Jason Donald is the de facto third bagger because it will be easy to remove him from the position when Chisenhall is ready.

Justin Masterson was erratic again.  He faced 12 batters over 3 innings getting touched up for a solo homer and needing one of Matt McBride's 2 assists from right field to prevent a lead-off triple in the third.  Masterson also walked one, hit another and made a throwing error on a pickoff (Shouldn't that run be earned?).  In a camp where most of the pitchers have been wildly successful (ex. another 2 shutout innings for Frank Herrmann), Justin seems to be lagging behind.  It's just spring training, but every start that his inconsistency persists is a greater cause for concern.

Utility OF Battle:  Travis Buck (.471) doubled for his sole hit in three trips.  He played center again and I would say that he is ahead on points right now.  Shelley Duncan (.167) started in left and did nothing to help himself, going hitless over 3 ABs.

Mitch Talbot starts on 03.07.

Buffalo Solider of South Beach

An open letter to LeBron from the father of a US Marine serving in Afghanistan:

Dear LeBron, 

Just wanted to let you know: You are not at war. You are not a soldier.  What was said on your KingJames Twitter post?

“20+ games left in phase 2. I’m ReFOCUSED! No prisoners, I have no friends when at WAR besides my Soldiers.”

You can tweet it all you want. But what you do and who you are is not even close to what they do and who they are. 

You are probably a nice guy. And you are not the first athlete to compare sports to war; athletes to warriors; games to battle. I don’t mean to single you out. But it is time to stop those comparisons. 

War. Games. Not even close.  We are at war. Remember?

People die in wars. They rarely die playing the games you play. If they do, it is not because they are attacked or shot at or booby trapped by an enemy.  People lose limbs in war. Their bodies are torn apart by IEDs. Their legs and arms are ripped through by bullets and rockets.

You play in arenas in front of adoring fans. You don’t walk streets in villages not knowing who the enemy is or what might be lurking on a roadside, around a corner or behind a door. 

Athletes get concussions, serious business for sure. But soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen get post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. They lose their sight and their hearing in bomb blasts.

You travel to your games in the comfort of a chartered plane. You go home to an opulent mansion. You have little danger of coming home in a flag-draped box.

You carry a basketball, not a 50-pound backpack and a rifle. You wear sneakers, not boots. You wear a jersey, not a Kevlar vest.

In Afghanistan right now, soldiers and Marines are sleeping in bedrolls outside in the cold. They cook over an open flame. Think of that the next time you load up at the clubhouse buffet.

[Joseph Swerdt / Sun Sentinel.com]

Amen.

Also, the Heat the lost at home to the Bulls by 1.  Both Wade and James missed in the last 10 seconds, adding to Miami's remarkable 1-for-16 shooting this season on shots to tie the game or take the lead during that final ten ticks.  El Heat have lost 3 in a row and 5 of 6.

Suicide Squeeze - Mark Prior ('92 Upper Deck)

Pretty Girl 03.06.11 - Stana Katic

Damn, I'm a sucker for a French accent.