We can’t wait to see how well (how badly?) Shaquille O’Neal hits in his made-for-ABC-TV showdown against Albert Pujols.

This show, “Shaq Vs.,” is just the latest entry in the sports reality genre. “The TO Show” is cluttering up the airwaves for VH1 and Michael Irvin’s “Fourth and Long” got big play on Spike TV.

“The name of the game is cost containment, especially this year,” sports media consultant Mike Trager told the Sports Business Journal. “With the squeeze we’ve seen for the last 18 months, there aren’t a lot of dollars out there for shows that are creative. Expediency and cost effectiveness are overruling creative judgment.”

Another example: TV executive Bob Horowitz is pitching a Warren Sapp star vehicle tentatively called “What’s Sappening.” (See what they did there?)

Why? “Sports are filled with those kinds of people,” Horowitz said. “Oversized characters drive these kinds of shows.”

(And speaking of oversized, how about Shaq’s towering presence on the mound Tuesday night? Wouldn’t it be fun to face him if he had a fastball?)

THE BEANBALL IS BACK

In the latest episode, Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello hit Red Sock Kevin Youkilis with a pitch, then had to defend himself on the mound.

Youkilis charged Porcello, threw his helmet at him – always an odd move under the circumstances – then wrapped him up with an open field tackle. The benches cleared and high jinks ensued.

Earlier in the game, Red Sox slugger Victor Martinez threatened to rush the mound after Porcello moved him off the plate with a pitch.

Porcello didn’t understand why he got ejected – and he expressed his displeasure walking off the field.

As for the Red Sox, they needed take out their frustration on somebody. The melee did the team some good.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while wondering where Yadier Molina was running off to Tuesday night:

• Also, what was Reds speedster Chris Dickerson thinking out there? Was he just determined to keep the Cards in the game?
• Did Mitchell Boggs help himself or hurt himself after barely getting through six innings in one piece?
• Are things a bit testy in Rick Pitino’s household these days? How will the University of Louisville handle all the negative PR fallout?
• How hard is it for Olympic heroes to return to normal life?

EMPTYING THE FRIDGE

When the college football season started, you may notice that Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen has lost 105 pounds. He did so by sticking to a diet of prepackaged food.

“There was a time when we were out recruiting, and his stomach let out a growl that was unbelievable,” offensive coordinator James Franklin recalled, according to The Associated Press. “But that was early in the process, and I think the body adjusts. He’s gotten used to it. This fits his lifestyle, because it’s hard to eat healthy on the road. Now he packs the meals in his bag, pulls them out, pops one in his mouth and he’s good to go.”

COMPUTERS SCARE MIKE LEACH

He knows not of this digital technology you speak of.

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Tim Keown, ESPN.com: “Everybody is angry. Hitters are angry, pitchers are angry and managers are angry. Prince Fielder is heading for the Dodgers’ clubhouse, Matt Garza is more than willing to admit his impure intent and Ozzie Guillen is announcing a clearance sale — buy one head shot, get one free. You gotta love August.”

Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “With rumors that Michael Vick may soon sign with an NFL team, I just wanted to get this out of the way: Jesse Jackson is a moron. The man has done some good work. But he loses all credibility when he goes to lengths for a soundbite, which is too often. In a New York Times story the other day, Jackson actually suggested NFL owners must be colluding because nobody had signed Vick, completely ignoring all of the logical reasons why that was happening.”

David Whitley, FanHouse: “Would somebody please get Jesse Jackson a new playbook? When he’s reduced to comparing Michael Vick to Jackie Robinson, the strategy is for the dogs. Jackson has started campaigning for Vick to get back into the NFL. No surprise there. The surprise is that he’d drag Robinson’s good name into the fight.”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “CBS announced today that Michael Vick will appear on 60 Minutes this coming Sunday Aug. 16, interviewed by a James Brown. A nice get for the network. If you can’t get Erin Andrews, Steve Bartman or Jimmy Hoffa, Vick may be the next best thing.”

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “A new NCAA policy would ban states such as Delaware from hosting championship events if they allow betting on individual games. In other words, hoops fans - try to contain your disappointment - there might never be a Final Four in Dover.”

MEGAPHONE

“Ultimately, I’m a little disheartened because I know this past winter, when I was negotiating with the Phillies, this was a sore thumb, if you will, about this potentially happening. You can’t promise anything in this game, but I really felt that Ruben (Amaro Jr.) kind of parlayed to me that this type of situation would not happen.”

Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer, after getting bumped from the rotation.