The Diamondbacks? In April?

The delightful world of perpetual interleague play, brought to you by 15 teams in each league. And on the seventh day Bud Selig smiled.

Still say that MLB should expand into 2 16 team leagues; 4 division winners in each league get into the playoffs - no wild card. Play a balanced schedule, reorganize so that every division is in the same time zone to the extent possible.

[2] Sure, but that would be a problem if you we're trying to wring every cent out of an overplayed gimmick; a problem that would make Seligula vewwy saaad.

[2] I agree with everything except the part about a balanced schedule. If you have divisions and only division winners make it in (me likey), then there needs to be an imbalanced schedule. If one prefers a balanced schedule, then eliminate the divisions, have everyone play the same schedule, and take the top four teams.

RIP Pat Summerall.

There will NEVER be a balanced schedule. Aside from the additional travel, Bud wants the Mid-West to have a (needed) advantage. It is intentionally unfair, so it can look like parity.

Jeez.... I hate to see Cano expending too much effort to make that tag.

I believe each team should play 8.3 interleague games.
Ideally.

I think that single puts Cano's OPS over 1.000.

Youk!

Ichi-ruh-oh ...

Ivan Nova is throwing batting practice.
We have been very lucky so far.

[12] He has three strikeouts in two innings.
I guess the Diamondbacks are really, really bad at batting practice.

I'm down with any game that doesn't involve the O's, Blue Jays, Red Sox, or Rays. Seeing them 18x per year is a bore. Just my $.02.

Gritner!

Wow! IBB.
Damn.

Make 'em pay, big ugly Jewish Greek man.

Alright, Yewcoulis, cash 'em in!

This is gonna be one of those games, isn't it?

Jeez, he almost beat it out. Crap.

Dammit. Wasted chances.

Hmmm ... double bonus whenever I have buffering issues on MLB.tv ... damn game feed gets delayed.

Meh.

Nova is the new Hughes.

[23] Does that make Hughes some kind of Super Hughes?

[24] Would a Super Hughes be better than Hughes, or just more Hughesish?

More Hughesish

Oh, look, Nova's imploding ...

Suzyn and John were trying to figure out where Shane Spencer is these days. I honestly thought the answer was jail.

That could have been worse.

"All things considered not terrible." A ringing endorsement from Michael Kay!

Not even a quality implosion ...

[26] Then, maybe. Although Hughes has been pretty damn Hughesish so far this year.

Good News: It's possible to select the "Park" feed while watching MLB.tv on your tv!

Bad News: At New Yankee Stadium, its as exciting as listening to tumbleweeds amble across a prairie ....

Where was that *last* time, Ichi???

This is pretty darn cool

[33] Can you select the "No Sweet Caroline" feed?

I mean, I'm as much for solidarity in trying times as anyone, so no disrespect. But.

[36] I'll make an exception for tonight.

Funny ... when Nova is pitching, the sound of bat striking ball seems different somehow ... I dunno if I can put my finger on it ... sharper perhaps???

It doesn't help Nova when the ump misses obvious strikes. Oi!

Bruce Sutter? (#42 on three teams.)

It's weird, because he's actually striking out a lot of guys, but he's not good. I wonder why that happens.

As a gesture of solidarity, Ubaldo Jimenez walked five Red Sox in the second inning.

Okay, sorry, I'm done being cynical.

Lyle, Lyle, he's our man. If he can't do, nobody can!

DO NOT BUNT.

[43] I Lovitt.

Well, if it's true that they'd just walk Rob, then I change my mind, he should bunt. But I don't think they would.

Hooray!

KABOOM!

Robbie!

Man, Robbie ain't going to see SHIT this at bat ...

Damn.
That worked out well!

[50] Heh, I guess you're a minute or two behind again, huh?

[47][48][49][50] Well, that's what happens when you're 2 minutes behind ...

[52] =)

The booth is not showing enough respect to how much Robbie clobbered that one. Man, beautiful shot.

check swing double

I sooooo badly want to take my father to that Islanders/Rangers game at the Stadium next year

[55] Sterling is

Nova needs to start throwing about 85 more pitches in the pen before his starts.

Six K in five innings. And yet, he hasn't been good at all.

Yay, Nova! Great job!! You're the bestest!!!

[sotto voce]
PULL HIM! PULL HIM!! PULL HIM!!!
[/sotto voce]

Ichi-doh!

All hail our new cromulent Wells overlords!

Robbie Cano, Whaddayaknow!

Man, I hate the Diamondbacks and their gritty-gutty-Kirk Gibson ethos. What a jerk, guy didn't go to his own kids' graduation ceremony.

[63] Doh ... I feel silly ...

Yes! My favorite punch out in baseball.

Hey, the catepilar move off of Joba's upper lip.

Yewk!

Let's at least get Youk in. Please.

Goddamit.
Try again, come on boys. Come on, Ichiro.

Oh, huh. I think that's a bad idea, walking him. Good.

Leiter likes the move, Kenny not so sure... let's see.

Attaboy!
Very nice. Big run.

When was the last time Robinson pitched? It feels like a while.

That should be ROBERTSON. Damnit.

[75] Understandable mistake, today!

¡Hola!

I've gone from who are these players we used to despise- now going to a Yankees costume party to... this team is interesting to watch. This is a good game; Nova gets a confidence building win (maybe getting ahead of myself), the bullpen looks good, Cano really blasted one, and we'll get some Mo.

Didn't Kuroda pitch a wonderful game over the weekend?

So, 4-2, and if we don't score it will still be 4-2 and good old #42 will come in to finish it off on #42 day.

Seems right.

[78] and we'll celebrate with a 4:2(0).

I wouldn't mind one more run here.

[80] You don't like the numerology, huh?

Here comes Mr. Natural 42. 43 years old.

Smoked, baby!

[81] Nope. Not one bit when it comes to a Yankees win. Baseball is too important.

And that's two.

Now I'll take a broken bat...

All Rise. Mo!

I approve of that win

The-e-e-e-e-e-e Yankees, win!

Praise be to Mo.

All praise to Mo.

Good night all.

12 pitches. Mo is the greatest.

Like a warm spring breeze. So satisfying to watch. Nice Yankee win.
This team looks really good all of a sudden. If CC, Andy, Kuroda stay true to form, and Youk keeps it going, Wells can hit 300 & 30, and Hafner, and the return of Grandy, Tex, and Jeter, and Gardner, the bullpen, and....
It's early, but Cashman looks like a genius nobody believed.

Now if Arod would just_______