Putting The “Sore” In Soriano
In his last 40 games, Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano is batting .182. This is why Small Bears skipper Lou Piniella benched him three times in an eight-game span.
Soriano is not happy about that. He insists that his sore knee isn’t an issue.
“I can play,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “If I can play, it’s not bothering me. It bothers me if I’m not playing though.”
After getting two hits Tuesday, he was miffed that Piniella left him out of Wednesday’s lineup.
“That’s a surprise to me today,” Soriano said. “I think he could have said to me last night, ‘OK, take a day off,’ especially because [Thursday] is an off day. I’d be like, ‘OK, I’ll take the two [days].’ But I like to know before I come here.”
Meanwhile, Milton Bradley’s batting average plunged to .236 after his 0-for-4 outing Wednesday. Fans at Wrigley Field booed him roundly.
“These are proud guys, him and Soriano,” new Cubs hitting coach Von Joshua said. “The booing might affect him a little bit. But they also realize they have to produce.”
This is turning into a long summer for the Cubs.
THE KING JAMES COVER-UP
You can almost anything on You Tube these days, like Erik Estrada embarrassing himself at Wrigley Field. But you can’t find video of Xavier’s Jordan Crawford throwing down a two-hand dunk on LeBron James.
That happened during a pick-up game at the LeBron James Skills Academy Monday night.
“We just went on playing,” Crawford said Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. “It was exciting just to be playing on the same court as him. I can see why he is so great at what he does.”
Two videographers recorded the event for posterity . . . and then had their tapes confiscated by Nike operatives, acting upon a King James directive.
Nike spokesman Derek Kent confirmed the incident, which was first reported on CBSSports.com:
“Nike has been operating basketball camps for the benefit of young athletes for decades and has long-standing policies as to what events are open and closed to media coverage. Unfortunately, for the first time in four years, two journalists did not respect our no videotaping policy at an after-hours pickup game following the LeBron James Skills Academy.”
Wonder what Little Dez will have to say about that.
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while waiting for Todd Wellemeyer to string together some quality starts:
- If you’re the Blue Jays, don’t you want blue-chip starting pitching prospects in return for Roy Halladay? And if so, how could the Cards possibly pull off this deal?
- Can we all learn from motivational master Jimmie Johnson?
- How, exactly, did Michael Jackson help Magic Johnson become a better point guard?
- Why, exactly, is Lance Armstrong sponsored by the great country of Kazakhstan?
- Who could have possibly guessed that “financial guru” Lenny Dykstra was a total fraud?
- Is there a better sports gig than serving the role of ballplayer’s wife?
QUIPS ‘R US
Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Michael Vick’s original bankruptcy proposal had him keeping two mansions and several cars. The judge said no, so Vick must settle for one mansion and one automobile, probably not a Ford Fiesta. Hey judge, why don’t you just waterboard Vick and be done with it?”
Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Roger Clemens said he might write a book to tell his side of the steroids dispute with his former trainer. There is a word for that type of book. I believe the word is ‘fiction.’”
Jay Mariotti, FanHouse: “In a way, he has won already, establishing at 37 that he can shake off a 3 1/2-year absence and immediately commandeer our attention at the Tour de France. But if this comeback once focused on his crusade against cancer, it’s now about the unthinkable. Can you imagine Lance Armstrong, who could be hanging with Hollywood pals after conquering his sport and becoming one of history’s most admired athletes, ripping across the Champs-Elysees three Sundays from now ahead of all other racers?”
MEGAPHONE
“I knew Andruw was going to have a big year for us. He’s just too talented. He has a game plan when he goes to the plate. He has the type of talent where he can carry this offense.”
Rangers third baseman Michael Young, after Andruw Jones delivered a three-homer performance Tuesday night.
Andruw Jones is still in baseball?
I’ll admit it, although it will get made fun of, but I have been watching the coverage of the Tour de France. And Lance Armstrong looks fit and capable of handling anything so far.
It cracks me up to see Mariotti writing for backwater sites like FanHouse. If there was ever a guy that deserved his fall, it was that clown.
Gordo covers the Cubs more thoroughly than anyone at the Tribune or Sun Times. I hope he receives some sort of compensation.
sheesh, The Toddalion looks like he may be suffering from anxiety disorder too…even if the Cards win tonight I’ll be glad to get away from this joke of an umpire crew. It’s obvious that last night the guy was trying to appease the Brewers from the night before, even though Waino had to deal with the same silly strike zone. It’s amazing that these billion dollar leagues leave so much in the hands of mediocre part-time (sometimes corrupt) officials. Wait, what am I saying? This is Bud Selig’s league! I should be surprised they don’t have the American Idol judges out there…
Mariotti definitely sucks. At least they stopped handing him points on ‘Around the Horn’
Although I like him better now that he isn’t a straight shill for the Chubbies…
‘no better gig than a ballplayer’s wife?’ might be the wrong week for that joke, Gordo. I’m just sayin’…
Two mansions and several cars? “Mr. Vick, this is my friend Reality. I don’t believe you two have met…”
“You can almost anything on Youtube these days?” Anything but how to proofread. Its not just tipsheet but all over the website. Interns can proofread. Tony really sent Ankiel to the plate in the pressure situation last night? Duncan my friend your outfield days are done, your batting needs a stint in AAA.
enough of the Tour de France- who cares! Jeez, it’s riding a bike- can anything be more boring or idiotic to watch on tv, other than WNBA? Just waterboard me if we gotta have more coverage of this moron Armstrong - maybe he should go away and let the real sports take up the print space
Rams, the P-D as much as admitted that some of the job losses they have had in recent years were editorial and proof-reading staff. In this day and age of spell check, you’d think they might actually be able to get away with the cutting of quality control. Apparently not. And you are correct, the garbage writing is friggin endemic to this entire website…
Heard Soto pulled a muscle in batting practice last night. The Cubs injuries just keep on rolling. They may overtake the Mets in that catergory. And I couldn’t pick two better franchises to have to endure a season like this either LOL…
Once again… Donatello strikes again in left field. Geez. Who plays outfield today? Duncan, Ankiel & Stavinoha? Arrhh again.
Shouldn’t “Mysteries of the Universe” be titled “Fat, Angry Sportswriters looking to Gripe about Anything to Make their sad lives seem better?”
If I wanted to read crap gossip I’d go to E! (by the way, ESPN, thanks for the great MJ coverage. Really sports-related there. At least it wasn’t Boston/Yankees coverage.)
Hey Chuck, it’s cool if you don’t like the Tour. I personally don’t care for the NBA, the NFL draft, or the 11 months of College Football talk. But each sport has supreme athletes that do things I can respect and admire.
You can’t say that tour riders aren’t athletes. What they do every day on a bike is super-human. And like any sport, when you delve into it, there is a lot of strategy, cat-and-mouse thinking that makes the difference between winner and loser.
I’d rather see that get ink then articles about Players Wives, Erik Estrada doing anything, or Jay Mariotti.
I was at the Angels’ game last night and watched Andruw hit his three home runs. The sad part is that in the top of the eighth inning, with the Rangers leading 8-1, Jones on deck as Josh Hamilton hit, streams of Angels’ fans were leaving the ballpark.
First, Josh Hamilton is worth the price of admission by himself and the guy on deck had a chance to make history. I’m disappointed by the lack of any sense of history in our population.
Andruw Jones? I can’t get excited about a player who cannot even spell his first name. Ant Tim, right on — what could be better than watching the Cubs flounder, again, for whatever reason?