Good Start.

Everybody Beats The Viz(caino)

I got home in time to see the last inning and a half of the first game of today's doubleheader. Andy had pitched pretty well, but the walks and the nibbling had his pitch count used up after six innings (pleeeeeeease Brian, please -- get grinders who throw strikes and don't care about their ERAs).

Enter Vizcaino, with the score 3-2 in our favor.

File this one under "Joe, have you got the message NOW that this guy sucks?" Vizcaino gives up a home run. Tie game.

But the baseball gods are in a perverse frame of mind today and decide to reinforce the lesson that "no bad deed goes unrewarded." We score a run top 8 on "Shemp" Matsui's clutch two-out hit. Farnsworth, amazingly enough, doesn't blow the lead.

Mariano comes in and it goes check-swing strikeout, weak grounder, weak grounder. In other words . . .

Mariano saved THE WIN for Vizcaino!

The win. I think a win is worth three points in the Rolaids Relief Man Award standings. Remember that next time you're tempted to think that things like the Rolaids Relief Man Award have any meaning whatsoever.


Joe's Phone Messages

From Proctor, S: Called to say he's capable of lifting his arm above his shoulder again, so you can resume using him in four out of every five games.

From Sturtze, T: Asks that you return his call. Has been working out on his own and really likes the way his ball is moving these days.

From Steinbrenner, G: Just wanted to you let know he was just kidding. Pretty much.


Medical Update, or "$40 million just doesn't buy what it used to"

Carl Pavano, who you might have heard had a "setback" the other day . . . is going to see Dr. Andrews about his elbow.

Basically, going to see Dr. Andrews is the pitching equivalent of being put on "double secret probation." You are done -- you just haven't admitted it to yourself yet.

You can't make this up, or script it. You simply can't.

Happy trails, Carl.