Actually, I take that back about Girardi's ejection performance. It was warranted. These umpires seriously need to do their jobs better. It was bad enough with the Delgado pole-shot. But yesterday, when Arod clearly hit his second home run off of the stairs in center but it was called a double, was the final straw. So the new Joe was completely in line to go ballistic over Giambi probably getting a HBP (which was ruled a foul tip by
Look, I'm not calling for a revolutionary change to the game. IR wouldn't and shouldn't be used for balls and strikes; that's the umpire's job and it's a vital aspect of baseball. But situations that are clear-cut, such as home runs, basestealing, and plays at the plate, should NOT be subject to human error. And the argument that replaying would elongate the game is nonsense: I don't see how quickly checking with a fifth "ump" in a studio and asking him to zoom in on a tape will take any longer than four men converging and trying to piece together four different viewpoints. This sort of implementation would save everyone a lot of pain.
But alas, it would appear as if I am preaching to the choir. Most baseball fans are in agreement with me, and apparently so is MLB itself. Stark says that the criteria is that "no insurmountable problems arise", and since I can't see any coming up, we may be looking at the instant replay in baseball in April of 2009. It's about time.
After yesterday's 2-inning affair for Mr. Chamberlain, Joe Girardi announced, in epic fashion, that "The process has started [to turn Joba into a starter]." This is excellent news, of course. It's good to see the organization sticking with its plans. But I wish someone would explain to me why some Yankee fans are flipping out over this news. They're calling it "a huge mistake" and "an impulsive move from angry Hank", but come again? Being a starter has ALWAYS been Joba's destiny. That's what he did in the minors, and that's what he was being groomed to do in the majors...it just so happened that he became one hell of a setup man in the process. Yet I do not fear a gap in the 8th; someone in AAA should be able to handle the job. But with Joba's stuff, he deserves to be in the rotation. 'Nuff said.
Oh, this is amusing. I don't know how credible this source is, but it claims that "Senator Clinton has directly told Senator Obama that she wants to be his vice presidential nominee, and that Senator Obama politely but straightforwardly and irrevocably said 'no.'" That's amazing. It then goes on to say that this rejection was the cause of her ridiculous desperate attempt to reach out to Florida voters over the past few days. Give me a break Hillary--it's over! She's the only person on Earth who doesn't know this yet.
Speaking of Florida, apparently members of its Democratic party are trying to sue the DNC in federal court for removal of its delegates. Are you kidding me? Maybe my legal knowledge is facing a lapse here, but there's no way they have any standing to do this. For the umpteenth time--the voters weren't disenfranchised because there is no constitutional right to vote in party business, and the federal government has no power over how political parties run their primaries! Not to mention, Florida's elites knew the consequences of breaking the rules before they did it; where was this legal challenge then? I hope the court rips them a new one.
I will leave you on this note: It is May 22nd. Why was the temperature hovering around 55 all day? Where is my summer?!
