MLB

I think the time has come to realize that Homer Bailey is not going to be the money pitcher that the Reds management hoped he would become.

In his major league career, all with the Reds, Bailey is 4-8 with a 7.01 ERA.  This includes 18 appearances, each one as a starter.  He has not yet seen the eighth inning of a game from the mound.

I am not out to denigrate Bailey or to maximize his shortcomings.  Perhaps he is not doing what he would be best suited for. 

Rockies 3, Tigers 1 (box)
Record: 24-18 (first place)

Dontrelle Willis was not sharp, but he didn’t have to be sharp. He just had to keep putting zeroes on the board at the end of innings.

He did that five times through six innings, allowing just one run and picking up the second quality start in as many chances.

You know that a baseball series is squat when a total novice to the sport believes that it will be a great series based on the premise that someone has to win.

That was my wife’s perspective on Friday night as we headed to the drive-in movie theater after abandoning all cares for the Baltimore Orioles-Washington Nationals weekend series.

But as it turns out, the “something’s gotta give theory” actually worked out to the Orioles’ advantage.

It is never good to be on a team that wants to deal you to another city. Despite this, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Jake Peavy decided to stay with his team after a deal was made between the Padres and White Sox on Thursday, making use of his no-trade clause.

Peavy signed an extension with San Diego in 2007, and will be a Padre through 2012 barring a successful trade. The extension also came with a $22 million team option for 2013. Peavy turns 28 next Sunday, and will be 31 years old in May 2012.

Today, Felix Hernandez toed the rubber at Safeco Field with some of the best stuff we’ve seen from him since his 17 shutout innings that began the 2007 season. Felix’s stat line may not reflect it completely, giving up seven hits and four runs (though only one was earned).

Hernandez’ two-seamer was running hard to the third-base side, and looked like it had a weight tied to the bottom of it. His change-up, with essentially the same action, had perhaps the best command I’ve seen him have with that pitch, and his breaking ball was adequate.

I love the Seattle Mariners.

In 2005, I moved to Los Angeles and began doing some work as a script consultant and worked for an independent production company in Hollywood.

I was sad to leave because I could no longer watch the Sonics and Mariners on a regular basis. I was going to miss Kevin Colabro and Dave Niehaus.

And I did.

Brian McCann and Kelly Johnson combined for six hits, three home runs, and seven RBI to lead the Braves past the Toronto Blue Jays 10-2 on Sunday afternoon.

The Braves looked to make the game a blowout early, as Kelly Johnson led off the game with an opposite field home run and McCann followed three batters later with a blast off of Toronto starter Scott Richmond.

Chris Young is known for being a strong right-handed arm and a stopper when the team is on a losing streak and they need a big start, but he's not known for being a hitter.

Apparently, someone forgot to tell Young that.

Noted sabermetrics guru Bill James popularized the concept a while back that a player often peaks at age 27, hits his prime when he's 27-30, and then gradually declines.

Nobody told Raul Ibanez of the Philadelphia Phillies though.

Ibanez is hitting .353 through 42 games with 17 homers and 43 RBI.

These are eye-opening numbers for any major leaguer. They're phenomenal for a guy who will turn 37 on June 2. It seems to be part and parcel of the contrarian career of the former Seattle Mariner.

Here are Ibanez's numbers during his "peak" years.