..though in this case, it’s the voice of Comerica Park vendor Charley Marcuse, somehow breaking the steely concentration of ESPN’s self-styled lothario during tonight’s telecast of the Yankees versus the Tigers.
“…it’s a singing vendor,” grumbled Chris Berman, while watching Justin Verlander get pounded. “Obviously, an opera buff.”
Jim Thome has 3 RBI’s in his first 3 plate appearances at the Jake tonight, as the White Sox lead the Tribe, 5-2 after two innings. If all else fails, Paul Byrd might want to try employing the Crippler Crossface.
After yesterday’s commotion surrounding a USA Today report by Bob Nightengale that ascribed a decidedly Christian agenda to the Colorado Rockies, some members of the organization took issue with the characterization when speaking with the Rocky Mountain News’ Tracy Ringolsby.
“I get Maxim (a men’s magazine) sent to me in the mail in the clubhouse,” first baseman Todd Helton said. “Everybody is at a different place in life. We have guys from all over the world (United States, Canada, Taiwan, Korea, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela). I’ve been here nine years. It’s about the same mix of people, but we have good guys.”
Pitcher Jason Jennings was a first-round draft choice by the Rockies in 1997 from Baylor University, the largest Baptist university in the world. He has strong religious convictions but believes the tone of the story was not a proper view of the atmosphere in the Rockies clubhouse.
“I thought the story was over the top,” he said. “I have strong beliefs, but I don’t judge others and I never will. My opinion is we look for good character guys, not Christian guys. A good teammate doesn’t have to have the same beliefs you have. A good teammate is a good person who plays to win.”
Third baseman Garrett Atkins agreed.
“I don’t think being part of this team has anything to do with faith or belief,” he said. “I believe it has to do with the quality of the individual as a person and player. If you happen to be a Christian, that’s fine.”
Helton said he was upset by the story’s negative portrayal of former Rockies pitcher Denny Neagle, who was released by the team before the 2005 season in the aftermath of solicitation charges.
“I’m tired of blaming Denny Neagle for everything that has gone wrong here,” Helton said. “Every time he was healthy, he tried his best to win.”