The "Greek God of Walks" may need to be moved.

Reports are coming in that Kevin Youkilis [the Greek God of Walks - from Moneyball] is being "shopped" for a Planned Trade this year. Two years ago this might have been unthinkable for the Red Sox. Youk, a fan favorite, has had two disappointing years in a row, and each year he seems to be injured for long periods of time. These injuries are legitimate, not any sort of 'cry-baby' like behavoir from the Boston 3rd Baseman. However, it appears that Kevin's body is no longer able to hold-up to his 'style of play' and his energetic demeanor.

Prince Fielder is HUGE!

I just watched Prince Fielder at bat against the Boston Red Sox this afternoon. I always heard he was big, just did not realize how big. He looks like someone who might have just eaten David Ortiz. He makes Big Papi look like somebody's 'little' brother.

But, Holy Crap could he move running the bases! Hate to have that large mass moving towards me in a hurry. The momentum would scare the crap out of me!

Inter-League Play is here, again!

Like it or not, Inter-League Play is back for MLB this year.

Some people thrive on this time of year, while others absolutely HATE it! Myself, i kind of enjoy it, a bit, until my favorite AL Teams run out of Gas in the later innings and can not rely upon their BIG DH's to bail them out of the power-failure that comes with pitcher's hitting. Although it is kinda funny to see Big Papi [David Ortiz] with a baseball glove on his hand. {Looks kinda like a pot-holder!}

Umpires HATE when you head towards first!

Have you ever noticed that when an Umpire is 'slow to call the pitch' and the hitter thinks its the 4th Ball and begins to head towards firstbase, the Umpire "instinctively" calls it a strike? I believe this is built-in to the umpire's make-up and can not be helped. I'm not defending it, but it does happen too often to be coincidence.

Take into account the 'altercation' between Umpire Bill Miller and Blue Jays 3rd Baseman, Brett Lawrie the other night. Twice, in a row, the hitter thought it was Ball-four, and the Umpire Responded by Calling it a Strike. The first of those two pitches was CLEARLY outside the strike-zone. It could make you mad [as a hitter] but it should also teach you some patience. Hitters should realize that Umpires are people who are used to others listening to what they say and following their 'orders'. When someone thinks they know the truth that the Umpire has not given them, yet, the umpire reacts by 'proving the person wrong'. It's not really honest, but it happens all the time.

So, patience is prescribed for all. [Oh, and DON'T THROW YOUR HELMUT - for ANY Reason!]

Big MO may be NO MO!

Mariano Riviera Tore his ACL while messing around in the outfield during Batting Practice. He had planned to retire after this season, and this appears to be the end of this season. If this proves to be the end of his career, what a sad way to go out. Now, it's hard to blame him, for doing something unnecessary, since it is just as likely this [most likely] would have happened during normal exercises and game play, considering his age and conditioning.

As a Red Sox fan [for life!] you might expect me to be grateful for his early departure, but, no, I am not. I never really considered him the "Ultimate Closer" [especially with his track record against the Red Sox!] and looked forward to the Sox BIG Hitters coming up against him in the last inning of a close game!

John Grisham hits one out of the ballpark!

I was finally able to set down and read the new offering by one of America's Greatest Writer [John Grisham], "Calico Joe". The Baseball related storyline of this new book is a story that all people can relate to and enjoy. It contains comprehensive [although fictional] Baseball Game details, as well as Disfunctional Family plot-lines that cause the reader to tear up and think about people they know in reality. I also caught a few good belly-laughs in this book. It's a great story and it's told in a way that keep the reader interested, by traveling back and forth in the protagonist's mind to the point where things went wrong, and the point where he was trying to 'right' them.

I'd recommend this book for all sorts of readers. Baseball fans, as well as people who barely watch the sport. It can be read by teenagers, and pre-teens, as well as mothers, fathers, grand-parents, and grand-children. All sorts of people will enjoy this well-written story with a mixed ending. This book is for everyone who ever wanted to right a wrong, for everyone who ever 'had a catch' with their father, for everyone who ever 'missed a catch' with their father, and all those in-between. The book is fairly short. It took me about 25 hours to complete reading from start to finish, among my other 'things to do' in that time.

Head-Hunting in Detroit this season?

I am NOT naive. I know that Pitchers throw at Hitters. Happens every day. Happens on every team. Sometimes it seems to "come out of no where" [to the home viewer] due to bad blood for comments and actions not seen by the TV cameras or heard by the Microphones. What I do NOT understand is why when a pitcher throws directly at a batter's head, not once, but twice in a single at-bat, he is NOT thrown out of that game?

Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox game on Easter Sunday [no less!]. Lefty Phil Coke came in and threw at the head of Adrian Gonzales [went behind him, but looked obvious!] Then, next pitch, he hit Gonzalez in the shoulder. Umpires seemed to move on, like it had not happened. They awarded the base to Gonzales, who walked slowly to First, staring at the Pitcher. Given that Gonzalez had homered his last time up, the Manager, Bobby Valentine, came out to complain. Crew-Chief [2nd base] Umpire Dan Iassogna agreed and warned both teams. Valentine came back out. But there should have been an ejection. He clearly threw at the head of Gonzales with the first pitch, and missed. So, he tried another one up high and tight and plunked Gonzales on the shoulder [very near the head].

I know that hit-batsmen are a part of the game, all teams do it, most times they get away with it. But, usually the pitcher throws at the back-side of the hitter, or the leg. To throw one at the head is rediculous. To throw 2 pitches in a row at a batter's head should be automatically an ejection, and ultimately a suspension and fine from MLB.