Diego's Burgh Randomness

I was at the Pirates game last night against the Yankees and I will admit it was fun to watch a baseball game that actually felt like it meant something (even though it didn’t).

Highlights included hearing the “over-rated” chant every time Derek Jeter took bat (yes we are haters here in Pgh), hearing the “home-wrecker” chant when A Rod was up (also seeing people dressed as Madonna in blonde wigs), and seeing all the Yankees jerseys, hats, and shirts. I also noticed a lot of Red Sox jerseys throughout the crowd (3rd largest crowd in PNC Park history) I am assuming people did this to mess with the Yank’s fans? Who knows?

We were in his head

Manny Sanguillen is arguably the greatest all-time catcher in Buc’s history, and he also makes some pretty mean BBQ at PNC Park. I have been to many Pirates games, but last night was the first time I hit up Manny’s BBQ. I was impressed; it was a pretty good burger. Also, Manny was even posted up right there in line signing autographs and kissing babys (all while looking drunk as ever)

On to today's links...

Well two days ago nobody in New York knew who in the hell Nate McLouth even was. Thanks to his game winning two run jack against the Yankees last night McLovin is almost certain to be booed at the All Star game at Yankee Stadium next week.

See yinz in NYC

Aided by 8 innings of well-pitched baseball by starter Paul Maholm the Pirates managed to snap the Yankee’s 4 game win streak last night and also win the three game series against the Evil Empire.

The Bucs "newest" ace...

Tampa Bay Ray rookie Evan Longoria and Brewers sophomore outfielder Corey Hart are the last two players in the All Star game, as voted on by the fans.

Mild mannered, low-key billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller has been all over the news recently because of his reported interest in purchasing part of the Steelers.

All I keep hearing is good things about this guy. (Painting his face at the Steelers games, saving the US Open at Oakmont, etc) This led me to a comparison of another billionaire industrialist none other then Bruce Wayne! Someone find out what Stanley is doing at night.

Is Batman trying to buy the Steelers?

Last night in Arkansas soon-to-be former Jaguars wider receiver Matt Jones was arrested at 1:00 Thursday for felony drug possession when officers “observed him cutting up cocaine with a credit card inside of his Toyota 4 Runner”. Toyota 4 Runner you say, Matt Jones? BALLIN!

Mr Jones, we’ve got the Cincinnati Bengals on line one… and the Dallas Cowboys on line two.

Until lata...

Snack's Tuesday Thunder

First off, kudos go to Diego for his post on the All Star game yesterday, however I think he needed to take it a step further - instead of complaining about Ichiro and Fukudome, what needs to be done is to enact a US vs the World format as they've had in other sports.

In hockey, it's North America vs. the World, which wouldn't work in MLB but the principle would. And golf always has the US vs. England. I just think that since it is OUR national pasttime, it would be good for the game to bring a little nationalistic pride into it.

Sorry for the rant, but it had to be said...can you imagine, the US (and Jason Bay's Canadian ass I guess) versus all the players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela and Cuba and Japan? It'd be a game I'd watch, I know that much...

USA! USA! USA!

And speaking of ARod, our boys at ETrueSports made a lil list about him that yinz may find funny...I know I sure as hell did...

Also in the news, our buddies the Rooneys are in bit of a pickle with the NFL and with each other; apparently, the NFL doesn't like that the Rooneys also own gambling establishments and wants them to reorganize the team so no one affiliated with the wagering is an owner. The only problem is some of the Rooney brothers think ole Danny Boy was lowballing them on his offer, so now they're discussing SELLING THE STEELERS!

They sure as hell woon't leave the Burgh, but it just wouldn't be the same without a Rooney in charge...stay tuned for more as this one develops...

Now onto the Pens...

We signed a Finn by the name of Janne Pesonen, who apparently is the man over in the Finnish league...It's a nice signing, but I'm not too impressed because I've seen many people come from different leagues with numbers similar to his who have done absolutely nothing in the league. So until he proves it, he's just a jagoff foreigner trying to take an American job...

Also check out where the Recchin Ball signed...

I know, I can't forget our Buccos and the ever present revolving door that every one of them is worried about going through around this time of year, so here goes...Rumor has it that Jumpin' Jack may be on the block, but that may not be the case; apparently everyone saw how badly Bixler sucks and all of a sudden Jack's $7 million plus contract doesn't seem so bad...

There's also rumors he's goig to LA, so who the hell knows. All I know is, if you want info on the Buccos and their history, check out the Green Weenie...He reports on all things Bucco, including minor league reports and trade rumors. It's a great site, and one of the few I check all the time - trust me, with the trade deadline less then a month away, this is the place to go for all your trade needs.

Here's a lil something from Diego discussing what went wrong with the Pirates' great young pitching. My first guess would be a lot...

And finally, Snack himself will be heading to Finnegan's Wake before the Buccos game to give it another go for the ESPN Top Fan Contest. Remember to email those guys at ESPN and tell em' you read about them on Pierogi's N'At and that Contestant 9 (Big Snack) is the shiz daddy snap and he should be on the radio (maybe not in those words but you get the drift..)

So until lata...

Diego's Screw the All-Star Game Report

Let me start off by saying this - I hate all-star game; not just the MLB one, but all the rest of them as well. Since the MLB all-star game is about a week away I will focus my hatred towards that one.

The main thing about the MLB all-star game that grinds me gears is the fact that the fans have the right to vote the starters to both teams. Lord knows Americans love to vote (EX American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, etc), but fans' stupidity, loyalty, or whatever you wanna call it leads to some pretty sketchy starters each year.

Surprisingly enough, for the most part, the fans actually got the infield right this year (yes I was shocked, and yes, Jeter starting for the AL is a bit iffy I will admit), but the outfield was a different story.

I thought this was America people? You really voted both Ichiro and Fukudome in as starters? Are you serious? To make this announcement so close to the 4th makes it hurt even worse!

The fact that Fukudome got in with such crappy stats (a whopping 7 HRs and 35 RBIs) amazes me. The Buccos Jason Bay has 10 more jacks and 10 more rbi’s, and also more runs scored then the Cubs outfielder. If I were Matt Holiday, Adam Dunn, or Ryan Ludwick I would be pissed about not getting the start. If I were Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Aaron Rowand, Pat Burrel, or Carlos Lee I would be even more pissed about getting snubbed when scrubs like Fukudome are starting in the game.

Am I finished complaining yet? Not even close…

Of course I am not surprised that teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, and Cubs make up a majority of the starters in the game. I understand these are popular teams with the fans, so they will vote them in. However, it is inexcusable to not include Jermaine Dye and Carl Crawford on the AL team this season. Both these guys are having awesome first halfs, not to mention both players teams are in first place (Rays ahead of both the Red Sox and the Yanks in the AL East). This type of misrepresentation and bias against certain teams when it comes to “all-star” voting is BS.

Final Vote? You gotta be kiddin’ me

Lastly what the F is Brandon Webb doing starting this game for the NL? Sure he may have started out as the best pitcher in baseball, but now he’s not even the best pitcher on his team (Dan Haren), let alone in the national league.

The true ace of the National League is none other then “The Freak” lil Timmy Lincecum, and I will tell you why:

1. The dude is 5’7” 170 lbs and looks like he is about 15 years old, but his stuff is nasty; he has fastball in the upper 90’s and his 12-6 curve will freeze a batter in his tracks.

2. He plays for the San Francisco Giants (they suck), but yet he is 10-1 this year.

3. He leads the majors with 122 K’s in 115 innings pitched with only 44 walks and 100 hits given up.

(Note from Snack - Diego's just pissed cause he has "lil" Timmy, and I have Webb on my team in fantasy baseball...all I hear is an oversized Italian WAAAAAAAA!!!!)

If you want to know more about Tim Lincecum then get familiar with him by reading Tom Verducci’s article which was the feature story from Sports Illustrated last week.

Little guy with a big fastball

In closing, it would be one thing if this game meant nothing (as it did for many, many years), but now the winner gets home field advantage in the World Series; that’s a pretty big deal. Wouldn’t it make sense that you would want to have the best players representing your league? It does to me. On the other hand, who really gives a crap about the all-star game anyway?

Monday Links

The Buccos are bringin' Phil Dumatrait off the DL to fill the slot left open from Gorzelanny’s demotion to AAA earlier this week. Ian Snell is also expected to come off the DL this week.

A Rod is due to take a hefty shot in the pocketbook after his wife of 5 years filed for divorce today, lucky for him Madonna can probably pay for her own dates. (this guys life is like a soup opera, gotta love the NY media)

In Pens news, the team signed Matt Cooke as a replacement for Rutuu over this weekend. Apparently this guy is similar to Rutuu, but likes to hit more.

Shero sure does now how to pick up those role players doesn’t he? Here is a rundown of his off-season moves thus far. Gotta love talking about the Pens in July.

Lastly I was surprised to find out that Plaxico Burress has come out with a book titled Giant:A Road to the Super Bowl. The DVE morning show interviewed Plax this morning and I was shocked to learn A) that Plax could read, let alone write B) That he was good friends with Cowher and old Coach Chin was one of the first to call him to congratulate him after Giants won the NFC title C) that he couldn’t believe how many white homeless people lived in Pittsburgh!

And finally, this pic basically sums up the Littlefield Era in Pirate baseball...Thanks to reader Joe for sending it it...

Until lata...