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Miscellanous Notes

© Bryan Walker

I’m guessing that the loud calls for steroid testing among Major League players will soon die down, just as the drug testing calls did a few years ago when the cocaine problems were made public. Major League players are grown men who should be allowed some autonomy. Drugs carry their own punishment and the players should be educated toward the consequences but nothing more. Besides, if you asked the general public if they would take one year’s supply of steroids for million of dollars, the response would probably be overwhelmingly one-sided.

Just as last season, the St. Louis Cardinals have made a run toward the top after a slow start. Their offense is carried by the outfield trio of J.D. Drew, Jim Edmonds, and Albert Pujols. I’ve been living in St. Louis this summer and have caught most of the games on the tube. Their pitching has been hit hard by injuries: Woody Williams, Dustin Hermanson, Bud Smith, Steve Kline, and Rick Ankiel. To managements surprise, several young players have stepped up, most notably Jason Simontacchi. A starter on the Italian national team in the last Olympics, Jason has been dominant despite not having an overwhelming fastball. In 5 starts, Jason is 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA. He has walked 9 in 33 IP using great control and off-speed pitches. Watching him, I get images of a poor-man’s Greg Maddux. If he can keep pitching effectively, he would be the steal of the year.

Perhaps I wrote too quickly about the Indians last week. I guess within a couple of days after I wrote that they should call it in for the season, they win 8 of 10. Jim Thome has been on a tear offensively, and Chuck Finley has pitched well enough to drop his ERA almost two runs. After sweeping the White Sox, the Indians are 3.5 games out heading into Minnesota for a three game set. Who knew?

I don’t know any of the writers for Sports Illustrated. I have no idea if they are honest journalists or not, but they seems bent on finding social issues embedded in sports. From my seat, it becomes annoying quickly. I could care less about whether or not a player is a racist; I want to know if he can hit the black. Anyway, what seems curious is that both Rocker and Caminiti seemed surprised at the story that came out after being interviewed.

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