MLB

Thin-skinned Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella took exception to criticism about his use of rookie outfielder Tyler Colvin and went on a tirade before yesterday's contest against crosstown rivals the Chicago White Sox.

Perhaps he should be worrying about the way his team is playing instead of the outside criticism about his decision.

Part of the description of your job as a manager is that people will criticize you. Until Piniella went off yesterday I didn't know you had to have certain credentials before you were allowed to express your opinion.

If you are looking for Corey Hart's name on the 2010 All-Star ballot, have fun trying, because you won't find it.

That's right, because the Milwaukee outfielder with 17 home runs, 41 RBI, and a .610 slugging pct. was not in the Opening Day starting lineup, he is not on the fan ballot for the All-Star game.

In just 53 games, Hart already has five more home runs and seven fewer RBI than his 2009 totals. His 17 long balls lead the National League by three over Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Mark Reynolds, and Dan Uggla.

While the MLB season isn't halfway over, it's time we started discussing how good rookies have really been this season. We've seen surprises like Brennan Boesch and Jaime Garcia, as well as guys like Jason Heyward (left) who we've known would be good all along. This slideshow will display all the rookies at their best.

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How many dreams come true in Pittsburgh?

On Friday, April 6, 1979, a 27-year-old man from Waltham, Massachusetts crouched behind Pirates catcher Ed Ott and prepared to call balls and strikes in Three Rivers Stadium in his first game as a big league umpire.

Whether the first pitch from Bert Blyleven was a ball or a strike has long been forgotten.

What is irrefutable from that day is this: Dave Pallone pulled his mask over his face, and he left it there for the next 10 seasons.

Carlos Pena who had been slumping hit a home run in his fifth consecutive game and he has hit six home runs in those five games.

Carlos Pena hit a home run in his fifth consecutive game while breaking a Rays franchise home run record of 129 home runs, which had been held by Aubrey Huff until last night.

Some people like dogs. Some people only like big dogs.

I don’t blame them. Big dogs are real dogs—a man’s dog. They eat a man-sized meal and take a man-sized crap. They can down a steak in one gulp and leave you a gift the size of a baseball glove when you screw up.

Boston took one hell of a dookie on the Philadelphia Phillies.

Carlos Santana made his much anticipated debut and Tim Lincecum has appeared to have righted the ship. Francisco Liriano stole the show, despite Ubaldo Jimenez getting win #12. Let’s look at these stories and all the rest from yesterday’s games:

BALTIMORE: July 25 and 26, 2009. Seems like random dates from last year's awful season. Those dates are actually of meaning.

It was the last time the Mets won consecutive road games. On those dates, the Mets played in Houston after losing the first game and took the series.

This time, having not won a road series this season and having not won back-to-back road games since those dates, it should come a little easier for the Mets. After all, they are already up 1-0 against a 17-44 Orioles team.

I love major league baseball.  I’ll grant that NBA basketball, premier league soccer and professional boxing (because of the price you pay if you aren’t good, and except for the fixes) are of similar caliber of talent/ability, but I won’t admit than anyone plays their sport better than MLB players.

Tonight’s game was a lot of fun, particularly because the Giants won.  Lincecum wasn’t perfect in the first inning, but after that, he couldn’t have pitched much better.