Senior Editor Mark Haverty's work has regularly appears in such places as FOX Sports and Sporting News,
where Mark is one of TSN's lead minor league analysts. Mark has also
been featured in multiple print publications and as a featured guest on
multiple radio shows.
Zack Greinke is finally living up to all the hype. He is currently 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA.
Okay, Haverty filling in here, and I have absolutely no idea what to do, so I am just going to talk about a whole bunch of random baseball stuff, with no links to each other whatsoever. Work for you? Good, because it works for me.
You know, when your defense is full of idiots, you should not be credited with a blown save simply because those behind you are clueless when it comes to turning a double play. Why, yes, I am a George Sherrill owner – why do you ask? Bitter? Me? No, not at all. The Cincinnati Reds took the Cubs 9-0 and picked up 15 hits. Corey Patterson had only one, in five at-bats. Patterson struck out twice, stranded three, and dropped his batting average to the Mendoza Line. Every at-bat given to him and not to Jay Bruce, who is being wasted in Triple-A, is yet another in a series of signs as to how truly moronic the Reds are.Somehow, Juan Pierre has more walks (8) than strikeouts (3), and is actually posting an on base percentage that does not suck. Someone check below, because Hades hath indeed frozen…Ryan Church picked up his sixth home run on Wednesday, one of his three hits in four at-bats, and he is currently hitting .328 with 24 RBI. Most people do not consider moving to Shea Stadium to be an offensive upgrade, but anything is better than hitting in RFK…How come announcers can figure out that Angel Pagan’s last name is not pronounced like the religion, but cannot figure out that his first name is not religious either? The G is pronounced like an H and the AN at the beginning is pronounced like Ann (with a British accent). Look, it is hard trying to type out a pronunciation, but I think you get it.If the Padres pitchers are not stellar, is there any conceivable way for them to win? That lineup says “no.”Are people finally getting the hint that Kelly Johnson really was not that good in 2007 but only had a couple of good months? This year’s slightly-better-than-mediocre performance thus far is the real deal.Can the season get any worse for Robinson Cano? There are currently 112 players with more RBI than Cano’s nine, and that includes multiple part-time catchers. Oh, and he 1-for-4 on Wednesday to spike his average up to .160.Wow – Scott Rolen has been producing since he got back from the Disabled List. He should keep producing too… until he goes back on the Disabled List. Rolen knocked out his second homer on Wednesday, and he is hitting .282 with eight RBI in 29 at-bats. He should get another 30-40 at-bats before he goes back on the Disabled List. We might hedge our bets and say more, but that would just be crazy.Anyone get the feeling that the federal government is the reason Frank Thomas became a free agent? No, I do not mean our federal government – Canada’s. Do you really think their health care system could afford both Rolen and Thomas? Don’t get crazy like that…If the Giants and Pirates play in a ballpark and no one is there, is it really a game? The Bonds-less hapless Giants played before packed PNC Park crowd of under 10K in their visit to Pittsburgh. Note to Pirate fans – the new ownership and front office actually are trying, and the team does not completely suck anymore. Okay, they have issues, but they are competitive and entertaining. As someone that greatly misses their former local team – the Expos – those that take the existence of a major league club in their market for granted make me ill.Meanwhile, the red-hot Marlins win again, they go to 19-14, they do so facing a playoff-contender in the Brewers, and only 10,405 show up. Miami never has been, nor never will be, a city that actually cares about any professional team, unless they are winning big, and only then barely. The fact that the Expos are gone and the same worthless owner that ran them in to the ground was given another franchise with which to mess with annoys me to no end, but at least he got one that makes the Montreal market look like diehards.In terms of the actual game in Miami, the five or so that were there saw another whooping of Dave Bush. As a fan of his stuff, I simply cannot understand how he continues to fail like he does. Bush allowed five hits, two walks, and six earned runs in six innings, running his record to 0-4 with a 6.98 ERA. If the Brewers make the playoffs, it will not be with Bush still in the rotation.The excellent season for Zack Greinke continues, as he beat the Angels on Wednesday. Greinke held the Angels to five hits, two walks, and three earned runs in seven innings, and he struck out eight. Greinke is now 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA. While there were some bumps in the way due to personal issues, it is safe to say that Greinke is finally living up to his potential. Jacoby Ellsbury stole two bases on Wednesday, and he still has yet to be caught attempting to steal. That is a perfect 22-for-22 in his career. In addition, his 2-for-5 day at the plate pushed his batting average up to .281 and his OBP over .400. If he is not the favorite for rookie of the year, there is something seriously wrong…Is there a more inconsistent ace out there than Mark Buehrle? Wednesday’s line – nine hits, three walks, and seven earned runs in just 5 2/3 innings. His ERA right now is a splendid 5.31. Yep, that is ace material. That wraps the Grumble for today – it’s been real.
