What an Interesting Ride

Today I’ll delve into the mystery of where the human race came from. Alright, I’m just blowing smoke as I have no desire to put half of my readers to sleep in the first paragraph (according to a recent survey, they usually don’t start snoring until the third paragraph). Instead, I’ll just touch on a few of the interesting stories that caught my fancy in the last 24 hours in the world of baseball. Hey, we don’t all have to be astrophysicists.

Coco Crisp is likely done for the year as his troublesome shoulder injury will require surgery. Apparently his labrum is torn. You have to respect a guy for trying to play through injury, but sometimes you just have to do what’s best for the team, and that isn’t continuing to go out there if you are hitting .228. Who will take over in center? Apparently the answer to that trivia question is Mitch Maier. The Royals first round draft pick in 2003, shouldn’t Maier have a better line than .253/.312/.313 in his career with that pedigree? Always amazes me when guys have a higher OBP than SLG, and Maier is awfully close in his 198 career at-bats.

Josh Hamilton, I got a lot of respect for that man. Not only has he beaten back his addictions, he continues to be a great role model for those people out there that need someone to turn to when the going gets tough. I also have to say, that since turning his life around, has he done anything wrong? Continuing to do the right thing, he said on Tuesday that he would likely turn down an invitation to the All-Star game even if he was voted into the mid-summer’s classic by the fans (he is currently third in the outfield in fan voting). “The best thing would be to decline going and let somebody else take that spot. Obviously if I stayed up there in the voting, I appreciate the fans doing what they’ve done.” Now it is debatable if Hamilton will be able to play by the time of the game or not as he is still working his way back from a torn abdominal muscle, but I’d like to think that he is letting everyone know his intentions so that the fans will end up choosing someone more deserving of being named to the team. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Do you ever wonder to yourself just how pathetic some people’s lives are? I mean really, who sets up those spamming programs to fill your email box up with this crap? I especially like the ones that come from “your own address” with a title like “sexy ladies in your town want you.” What, did I somehow forget that I sent myself a note about sexy women who want to get down when I was at that brothel last weekend? Come up with a better scam than that people.

Did you catch the continuing antics of Manny Ramirez last night? Manny told the media he would not be doing any interviews until his return to the Dodgers on July 3rd. “I ain’t talking today, baby,” he declared. “Write what you want.” That lasted all of what, an hour? After warming up for the game Manny sat down with the press and talked, well, sort of. “I’m not talking about [performance enhancing drugs] anymore,” he said. “I already said what I’m going to say. I’m here to do my rehab…” Uh Manny, no one wants to talk to you for any reason other than to get your take on your suspension, so if you aren’t going to discuss it just do us all a favor and keep your mouth shut. The man is Picasso with a bat in his hands but an utter buffoon everywhere else.

Another nail in the coffin of Sammy Sosa perhaps? On Tuesday all-time Cub great Ryne Sandberg told ESPN radio that Sosa does not belong in the Hall of Fame. “Part of being in the Hall of Fame, they use the word integrity in describing a Hall of Famer, in the logo of the Hall of Fame, and I think there are going to be quite a few players that are not going to get in.” I’m getting a bit sick of all of this. I won’t launch into a diatribe at this time, but before we all get on that high horse to judge people, why don’t we look back into the past and consider some of the men already in the Hall of Fame. It doesn’t take any digging at all to find spousal abusers, alcoholics, drug users, racists, bigots – you name the vice and there are probably a handful of men already enshrined in the Hall that gave into it. It’s so nice to know that in the 21st century we have evolved so completely that we are now in position to be morally superior and pass judgment on everyone else.

By Ray Flowers