Random Musings

Josh Beckett became the first 13-game winner in the majors yesterday, outpitching Barry Zito of the Oakland A’s. Beckett went 6 innings, allowing 3 runs and striking out 4. Despite sporting a season ERA of 4.77, Beckett has scraped together a league-lead in wins thanks to some timely offense from the Red Sox. Manny Ramirez blasted a 3-run shot off Zito (who gave up 7 runs and 3 homers in 5 innings of work) in the third inning, and Alex Gonzalez and David Ortiz followed suit with solo shots. Ortiz’s home run was his 34th of the season, putting him further in the league lead.

Tonight Curt Schilling aims to even up with his teammate and earn his 13th victory of the season. Schilling pitched 7 innings of shutout ball against Oakland back on July 15 for a win.

Beckett’s victory last night kept the Sox 2.5 games in front of the Yankees, who held off the Rangers 6-2 behind Randy Johnson. The close race in the AL East, together with the recent slump of the White Sox, has made the AL Wild Card race interesting once again. As the Tigers continue to run away with the AL Central title, Chicago finds itself in a fierce battle to hold onto the top Wild Card spot over the Yankees (1.5 back), Twins (2.0), and Blue Jays (4.5). Whereas just before the All Star break everyone was all but guaranteeing a AL Central Wild Card team, the recent struggles of the White Sox (losers of 10 of their last 13) has opened the doors to all divisions.

Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN yesterday, for reasons yet undisclosed.

Reynolds had served as an analyst and all-around reporter for the news network for 11 years after playing 12 major league seasons. Reynolds was most visible in his role as a baseball analyst, but also covered the College and Little League World Series events.

Undoubtedly the many fans of Reynolds and his work on ESPN (and on the baseball field) are eagerly awaiting the official explanation for his firing, if it is at all to come. His insight into the game, softspoken manner and playful sense of humor will be sorely missed if he in fact does not return to the network.

The new CoolFlo batting helmets that have invaded the Major Leagues is a topic this blog has covered before, mostly to complain about the “new-age” look and unnecessary performance enhancement it offers. But now, another reason has come up.

As a University of Maryland graduate, I’m no more a fan of Duke basketball than I am of shoving bamboo shoots under my fingernails for fun. So imagine my delight when I came to this realization:

The CoolFlo helmets have been modeled after the wrinkly noggin of none other than Shane Battier!

While I’m still torn on who gets the shit end of that insult, Battier or the helmets, I’m quite pleased that I was able to burn both in one breath.

Thank you, goodnight!