Opinion

What was the strength of last year's World Championship team is now the weakest link on the team.

Brad Lidge.

He was perfect in 2008.

I always used to remember, when the Phillies played on a national stage, it was a big event. Any team that gets a nationally (or partially nationally) televised game, their fans look to it as a little bigger than a local station telecast.

That being said, Eric Karros and Dick Stockton announced today's Phillies-Dodgers game. Not only was it the worst and most awkward broadcast I have ever watched, they couldn't even do the simple tasks of being an announcer.

No matter what happens this year, the Mariners are building and playing for 2010 and beyond. While the roster isn't particularly loaded with top tier talent, Captain Jack and Co. can rebuild this roster pretty quickly by letting go a couple of these guys.

Its a Billy Beane move, throw away your season that’s going nowhere anyway in order to compete in the future. I think Z would be wise to take said road.

Two years ago, the Chicago Cubs made a bold decision. The one-time face of the franchise, the future of the starting rotation, the hope of the city of Chicago, Kerry Wood, was going to move to the bullpen.

The decision was partially made to give Wood a career. He had a longer laundry list of injuries and surgeries than he did pitching successes. But he always busted his tail to get back on the bump for the Cubs, so, out of respect for that, the team moved him into a role that would use his arm and shoulder more conservatively.

If I had to pick one story that made me nauseous by the end of the 2008 season, it would be Josh Hamilton's journey from "hell" to the big leagues. 

So what?  He put down the crack pipe, found Jesus, and started playing a game again.

Did Tim Raines, or any of the other 12 coke heads, get standing ovations when they came back from the infamous 1985 Pittsburgh drug trials?

Tim Raines did lines of coke off of his glove while playing the outfield.  He slid into bases on his non-vial side to make sure it wouldn't break.

Like most reasonable people in the good old United States of America, I marvel at the utter stupidity, egregious arrogance, and incredible greed of some of our most cherished professional athletes.  At the same time, I'm disgusted by some members of the media who lack either the knowledge, integrity, or tact required to be admirable journalists.

That covers two of the three branches of the sports universe.  It also covers the two most trivial ones.

With just about one-third of the season behind us, I thought this would be a good time to issue the Cubs starting rotation their first progress report.

Starting Pitching

Carlos Zambrano: B-

Carlos Zambrano is 4-2 with a 3.72 ERA.   His stuff has been real good, but he's missed a total of four starts due to an injury and a suspension.  The other issue with Big Z is his lack of command.  

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On Thursday, Randy Johnson won his 300th game, placing him in an elite category with 23 of baseball’s greatest players.

It took the Big Unit 22 seasons to reach this incredible milestone, and he is likely the last pitcher who will reach 300 wins for quite sometime. Among active pitchers, only Jamie Moyer (age 46, 250 wins), and Andy Pettite (age 37, 220 wins), are anywhere near 300 wins, and it is unlikely that either pitcher will have the longevity to reach that mark.

Amid the tribute articles, video montages, and picture slide shows, we are always reminded of Randy Johnson mean streak that made him the force he was in his glory days with the Mariners and Diamondbacks.

The man who has been branded "The Most Intimidating Pitcher of Our Era" wouldn't have even been recognized as he captured his 300th winning against the Washington Nationals in the rain on Thursday night.

All Ted Williams ever wanted growing up was to be known as the greatest hitter of all-time.

In a career that spanned four decades, Williams left little room for argument in regards to that discussion.

The Splendid Splinter had a career batting average of .344, ranking him tied for seventh all-time in the major leagues.

Williams also hit 521 career home runs, won the American League Triple Crown twice, and was the last player in baseball to hit .400 when he accomplished the feat in 1941.