Opinion

On the whole, Chicago Cubs fans are a gentle bunch.

That willingness to boo that gives White Sox supporters a little extra bite? It just isn't our style.

That penchant for mass collective sarcasm that Yankees fans have perfected? Not our cup of tea.

Sure, once in a while, we have a "getting drunk and throwing garbage on the field" problem. And certain segments of the bleachers are reputed to have a bit of a racism problem.

Today, I’ll keep things short and sweet.

Remember this day Mets fans.

June 10, 2009

This was the day you had nothing to complain about. As fans we have spent the last few seasons dissecting this team for flaws and we always find at least one. To be honest, I am sure if you really go over last night's 6-5 victory over the Phils you will find a few warts, but if you choose to do so, you will be missing the point of last nights win.

The Mets played with fire: Johan and Frankie saw to that.

The New York Yankees were destroyed in Fenway Park Tuesday night, losing to Boston 7-0.

This is the sixth straight loss the Yankees have suffered at the hands of their archnemesis, the Boston Red Sox.

It has become apparent that Joe Girardi thinks the New York Yankees cap with the interlocking N/Y is actually Merlin's magician's cap.

Girardi is convinced that he is a conjurer, a Merlin capable of experiments that will lead to magical results.

He simply cannot avoid the temptation to experiment like a wizard or a mad scientist

Welcome to the latest edition of Bombers Banter, the New York Yankees round table.  As the Bombers battle Boston for the division lead and the best record in the AL, we look ahead to interleague play and discuss the Yanks' abundance of starting pitching, as well as the new Stadium.

If you would like to take part in future Bombers Banter discussions, post your e-mail address on my bulletin board.

The San Francisco Giants' 2008 highlight was the development of their future pitching star, Tim Lincecum, to his rise to Cy Young Award winner.

Tim Lincecum's 2008 performance was one of the greatest single-year performances by anyone who has worn a Giants uniform, including Bonds' now tainted home run record.

Some would argue Lincecum's 2008 accomplishment is more validating to the Giants' organization than Barry's 73 home runs.

Regardless, Tim Lincecum put the Giants on his back and, more importantly, on the map during an otherwise disappointing season.

This year, Toronto has had to deal with more injuries and problems than usual.

Stay there for a moment, I need to unfurl my list and get my reading glasses.

Shawn Marcum, Dustin McGowan, Jesse Litsch have become casualties of the rotation. B.J. Ryan has been having troubles, and the Jays bullpen has been reshaped accordingly.

Rookies Brett Cecil and Bobby Ray were chased from the rotation, getting rocked and injured in the process. Ricky Romero and Scott Richmond have had their share of struggles lately. 

Here are some players that would help the San Francisco Giants win today and, for some, into the future. 

8) Jack Wilson

Age 31

139 AB, .266 BA, 1 HR, 12 doubles

UZR/150 (’07-’09) = -0 .3, 16.7, 27.2

Entering the 2009 season, not many people were confident about the Yankees' bullpen situation. Outside of Mariano Rivera, the team lacked a true workhorse, someone who could do whatever the team asked at any time.

Enter Alfredo Aceves.

Now, people outside of New York might be scratching their heads and asking each other, "Who the heck is this guy?"

Two years ago, scouts were asking the same thing.

Pitching in the Mexican League for six years, Aceves was a solid starter, going 34-23 with a 4.06 ERA with the Yucatán Leones and Sultanes de Monterrey.

Pirate fans, you were cheated by your management again. You saw another good young player with potential slip through your fingers to a better team. Nate McLouth is now like Jason Bay and Xavier Nady last year. Good, young outfielders traded to better teams.

Did you hear the excuse that Pirates management gave their fans? "We thought his defensive skill was going to break down, so we wanted to trade him while his trade stock was high."

That's a lie.

The Atlanta Braves punctuated a week to remember by sending heralded super-prospect Tommy Hanson to the mound on Sunday, carrying with him the promise that a return to the top of the National League East could be just around the corner.

The dominoes began to fall with the release of 300-game winner Tom Glavine on Wednesday. A move that took both the Cooperstown-bound left-hander and most Braves faithful by surprise and cleared the way for Hanson's long-awaited promotion to the Majors.