As much as I’m looking forward to this series, I think I’m looking forward to hearing about dred’s evening more.

I’m looking forward to interleague play being over. I want to see the Yankees play other AL East teams. I think now that the rotation is doing better, they will feast on the O’s and the Jays, but I want to see it to believe it.

Remember when people were rooting for Baltimore over Boston?

Heading down to DC on the early morning train tomorrow. Should be a great series, if the Yanks don’t win I’m just hoping to see some good baseball.

[3] RS: +26.  Os: +10.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the former still project to outplace the latter.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the former still project to outplace the latter.

They do, but the gap is shrinking.

Boston: 85-77
Toronto: 81-81
Baltimore: 81-81

Incidentally, the Angels have now tied the Rays’ projected win total.  I liked it better when they stunk.

[6] Right, and I’ll keep rooting for Baltimore over Boston until that gap is gone. 

But mostly I’m rooting for whoever is playing the Rays.  [edit: and Angels.  The Rangers being good I can handle, oddly enough.  But the Angels?  No, I was enjoying their suckage.]

I was at Dodger Stadium for Harper’s debut this year.  For those going to these games, it’s worth it to try to catch batting practice if possible.  Harper hits some big flies, but what’s more distinctive is the low line drives that he drills against the outfield fences.  Plus, he might do something kind of obnoxious like knocking his own helmet off his head while running the bases.  We took to calling him “Charlie Douchebag” and “The Five-Tool Tool.”

We need to lock up Swishalicious for the long-term. When the Yanks sign Harper in 6 years Swish will be there to school him in the finer arts of douchebaggery.

I’m going to the game on Sunday. It’ll be the first MLB game for my kids (4.5 year old twins). I’m probably more excited to be taking them than they are about going. Hopefully in 10 years they’ll still have some memory of the game. I know I will.

[9] Seriously?

[11] Certainly.

Apropos of nothing, there’s apparently an IndyCar driver named Will Power. See, ESPN is in fact a valuable source of information.

[8] “something kind of obnoxious like knocking his own helmet off his head”

I’m confused - you mean on purpose?

[9] I’m confused.  Last I heard Swisher’s entirely unobjectionable.  He does that pointing to the sky thing, right? - but ok, whatever.

Last I heard Swisher’s entirely unobjectionable.

That’s what I meant by [11]

[13] Might be a reference to a recent secret poll in which Swisher made the top-5 (or 10?) most disliked players, ranked by other players.  Landslide winner was AJ PierIcan’tbearsedtospellhisname, followed by, of course, ARod.

Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher hated in MLB players poll, Joba overrated

A-Rod is the second most-hated player in the league and teammate Nick Swisher is the third most hated. The only player hated more than them is White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who received 33-percent of the votes.
...
“Everything about (Swisher) is annoying, from his mannerisms to his always wanting to ‘bro’ it down,” an unnamed American League veteran told the magazine. “Being around him is just exhausting.”

Unnamed AL veteran = Alex Rodriguez.  He thought he could get Swisher into second.

Yep. I don’t dislike Swisher, in fact I’ve worn a Swisher shirt to every game since ‘09, but I’ve come to share the general sentiment of that unnamed source. Then again my favorite player is Granderson, a guy who keeps his head down and seems to think before he speaks or acts.

I’d never seen this: http://www.jest.com/video/5119/alec-baldwin-punches-john-krasinski-in-the-face-because-he-likes-the-red-sox

[13]  Yeah, on Harper’s first big league hit, a double, he flicked off his helmet while running from first to second:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTW9rzNp7iU

You know, I completely forgot Freddy Garcia was on this team.  I know he doesn’t pitch much but I don’t know if I happen to miss those games, turn them off by the time he is used or what, but I honestly can’t remember him pitching since his last start.

[19]This is a better view of Bryce Harper’s first hit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xddiX8GRoa0

I was at the game and saw Harper flick off his helmet.

I didn’t notice the “fans” behind home plate.

Is flicking off your helmet really that objectionable?

Yay for scoring runs!  How bad was Alex’s base running?

In non-Yankees injury news, it looks like our friend Becky will miss his next start with shoulder inflammation, and Jason Bay has managed to concuss himself while giving up an inside the park home run.

Returning to the matter at hand, at least it was nice to have the lead at one point in this game.

Nice job by Phil.  Someone get that man an Italian supermodel.

Bring on Strasburg.  Lee and Susan also.  All of em’