(the young Marlins celebrate Dan Le Batard’s ejection for violation of the “no outside food” rule)
Marlins 6, Mets 5
Earlier today, the New York Sun’s Tim Marchman tempted fate by writing “replace Billy Wagner with Mel Rojas and Willie Randolph’s men still take the flag”. Though Wagner’s 5th blown save in 27 chances — coming on Josh Willingham’s 2 run HR in the bottom of the 9th — isn’t nearly enough to warrant a Rojas comparison, it was the 5th longball Wagner’s allowed in ’06, and he’s on pace to top his previous season high for that category.
RF Lastings Millege walked 3 times in his first game with the parent club since being recalled after the Xavier Nady trade. I’m looking forward to stories in all of the major NY area papers tomorrow morning about how he didn’t hustle down to first quickly enough, regardless of what really happened.
Duaner Sanchez underwent season-ending shoulder surgery today. According to Hot Foot, Sanchez failed to wear his seatbelt on Sunday evening. You’d think there’d be enough Marc Bolan (or Jayne Mansfield) fans in the Mets bullpen to make sure this sort of thing never happened.
The Atlantic League’s Newark Bears might think they’re really clever, what with their “Britney Spears Baby Saftey Night” promotion, but the Jersey City Snakes have proven to be far more imaginative.
Just days ago, the New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman asked, “Why do baseball voices always think it’s funny when a player gets hit with the ball in the groin area?” The same question could be posed to Ryan McConnell and Jay Leno, both of whom seem to take perverse pleasure in a televised assault on CAPTAIN RED ASS’ MAN PARTS.
Really, if you’re into that kind of thing, this should be a real laff-riot.
Jose Cruz Jr., who won an NL Gold Glove as recently as 2003, was designated for assignment today by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even Ruben Rivera was muttering something about wasted potential. Earlier tonight, Wilson Betimit hit a 2 run HR off Bronson Arroyo in the Dodgers’ 10-4 win over the Reds.
With Bobby Abreu hitting 5th between A-Rod and Jorge Posada (0 for 3, one walk, run scored) in his Yankee debut, NY defeated the Blue Jays, 5-1. Bernie Williams (above) had a 3 RBI-double (after Abreu had worked out a walk in a 9 pitch at bat), while Alex Rodriguez doubled, singled and drove in a pair of runs in 4 trips to the plate. A.J. Burnett reverted to his making-J.P.-Riccardi-look-like-a-putz form, leaving after 4 innings when his pitch count hit 86. The Yankees’ win and the Red Sox losing, 6-3 to C.C. Sabathia and the Indians, vaults New York into first place in the AL East by percentage points.