The story of Jon Lester has been repeated ad nauseam, and rightfully so; it’s an inspiring and wonderful story.  I’m not going to repeat it. In fact, all I’m going to say is congratulations.

I still remember hearing that Lester was better than Jon Papelbon when both were coming through the Red Sox minor league system. I see where they were coming from.  Congrats, Jon.  Here’s hoping you have a good, long career. 

***

A lot of people have serious problems with inter league play.  Selig, who is almost always doing whatever his Owners—err, the team Owners—want, instituted inter league in order to create new and exciting rivalries: Yankees-Mets, Native Americans-Reds, and Dodgers-Angels.  That has worked. Yanks-Mets dominated national MLB broadcasts last weekend, and the Reds sold out most of their weekend series against the Natives.

Some people contend that inter league damaged the sanctity—I’ve heard that more in baseball in the last five years than... well ever in any product—of baseball and in particular weakened the World Series.  Is that true?

Certainly, TV ratings haven’t been stellar in the few World Series, but most of the match ups have been questionable.  Red Sox-Rockies?  Ehh.  An easy sweep for Boston.  Cardinals-Tigers?  I was generally uninterested.  White Sox-Astros?  No one cared.  Red Sox-Cardinals?   That, obviously, was interesting, and probably serves as the last World Series to be viewed by a high number of fans.

Did those weak match ups come as a result of inter league?  Clearly not.  I agree that seeing Yankees-Mets takes away from a Yankees-Mets World Series, but check this out:  The Subway Series was rained out last Friday, so in June when these two meet again, they’re having a 1 City—2 Stadium Doubleheader.  Gotta admit, that’s pretty cool.

***

Hey, Lance Berkman, who stole your soul and replaced you with Ted Williams?  The only way you don’t know who the best hitter in baseball so far—and by extension the NL MVP—is if you’ve been under a rock or listening to Steve Phillips too much.  Berkman has been red hot—as hot as Jason Giambi has been cold—and it shows: 1.226 OPS, .388 BABIP.  Yes, the figure will almost certainly drop, but I hope Berkman—and Chipper Jones for that matter—stay hot and put up ungodly numbers on the season.

***

Jake Peavy is on the DL with a hurt elbow.  Not much is known, other than Peavy complaining of a new pain his elbow.  Padres fans, you may slam your head on your desk now.

***

What’s wrong with the Cincinnati Reds?  Well, for one, it’s early and things change, and two, Dusty Baker, Dusty Baker, Dusty Baker.  Any moron who bats a guaranteed out like Corey Patterson first deserves to be losing baseball games like this.

Reap your rewards, Reds fans!  (And remember, Jay Bruce is only hitting like .375 at AAA Louisville!)

 

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