AROD Responds...Loudly

Just when I question how "clutch" AROD is, PTI discusses the way the fans and media in Gotham hate him (and love Jeter), he goes and hits a 3-run HR that turned out to the difference maker in a 7-5 win over the Boston Red Sox.

Granted, AROD's blast came with the Yankees already up 4-1, but we always strive to give credit where credit is due. His 3-run HR off Wakefield put the game out of reach and it's that kind of production people should expect out of him.

Beating the Shift

Defensive shifts are nothing new, but over the last few years you can't help but notice the increased frequency in which they are employed to stop left-handed sluggers. Barry Bonds, David Ortiz, Jason Giambi, etc...all come to the plate facing 3 infielders on the right side, and the third baseman playing shortstop.

It's a smart strategy for the defense, but has it gone too far? I previously didn't believe so until Monday night, when I saw the Anaheim Angels put one of these shifts on for Rangers 3B Hank Blalock. Does a team really need to use this shift to get him out?

After last night, I don't think Blalock is going to see that shift again as he went 3-5 with 3 doubles, all hit to left field. Two of his doubles were balls that an average 3B could've made a play on, including a ball grounded down the third baseline in the bottom of the 9th, putting the tying run on 2nd with only one out.

Fortunately for Anaheim, nobody in baseball seems to know how to hit with runners in scoring position and less than 2 outs, as Kevin Mench looked ridiculous as K-Rod slipped three sliders by him, and Brad Wilkerson attempted to hit every pitch into Arkansas.

Speaking of the Rangers-Angels game, kudos to the fan in the roofbox seats on the third base side for giving the two foul balls he caught to a couple of youngsters in the same row. One play he made even drew a loud cheer from the crowd. In fact, that should be a rule. If you catch a foul ball, or a HR ball not destined to rake in 6 figures on eBay, you should be required to give the ball to the nearest kid under 13. And to reiterate a rule Bill Simmons advocates, no male over the age of 13 should bring a baseball glove to a game.

I'm looking at you, Doug Flutie.

Bush Denied #5

Switching gears back to the NFL for a minute, New Orleans Saints rookie RB Reggie Bush's bid to wear #5 in the NFL was rejected by the league. Bush immediately released a statement expressing his disappointment, citing that he was going to donate 25% of the proceeds from his jersey sales to Katrina relief funds in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

Hey Reggie, you can still do that! Putting aside the issue that someone on the Saints already wears #5 (QB, Adrian McPherson), Bush's jerseys are going to sell like hotcakes, regardless of the number on it.

And to avoid the appearance that I'm mercilessly skewering him, Bush did reaffirm his pledge to donate 25% of his jersey sales this year to Katrina relief efforts. I just don't think he's going to be donating less money than he would if he wore #5. In fact, he'll gain more money, since he won't have to bribe McPherson to use that number.

I appluad the NFL's stance on this issue, as allowing players to wear whatever number they wish could cause confusion for the officials. For example, let's say that Jets LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson wants to wear #84 in the NFL. How could an official ever know if he was illegally downfield during a play? With the size of WRs and TEs increasing yearly, this would be an impossibility. Then again, Super Bowl XL proved that offensive lineman wearing #77 (Max Starks) can go as far downfield as they like without being flagged.