Pitch 'til you win

I was really psyched about seeing the Cubs play the Cards on Sunday Night Baseball tonight, but then the game got rained out in the third, which really sucks because Zambrano had it going tonight.

I love baseball, and anyone who knows me knows that. There's no asshole joke bully business like in football, or glory-hogging gansta BS like in basketball. And though I like soccer, I really like the idea of bathroom breaks a bit better. Hockey? Fun to watch in person, and usually minor league. Golf is a skill and NASCAR is glorification of redneck moonshiners, i.e. felons. None of this is news to anyone whose had a beer or two with me and discussed this topic.

So baseball is my game. And through Bud Selig, the '94 strike, interleague play, Barry Bonds, the frickin' Yankees, and all other ways the major league game has tried to destroy itself, it is still here and I'm still watching.

That said, as much as everyday yahoos want to see everyone hit a dinger over the wall, I really like pitching. And lately, we've had that, and even a touch of the hitting too.

For example, John Santana today fanned 17 batters and won 1-0. The other side wasn't doing too shabby either so I guess he needed to pull an all-star performance out of his back pocket. I like Johan, and he wants to play for a contender. Hey! Whoever ends up owning the Cubs: pay attention!

Even cooler is rookie Micah Owings, who the other night struck out seven batters and won his sixth game of the year, 12-6. Even cooler than *that* is he hit two home runs, was four runs, and batted in six RBIs, and he left in the seventh inning. Talk about helping your own cause.

He's not alone in shining on the mound for the D-backs. Ace Brandon Webb has pitched 42 scoreless innings of late and is closing in on Orel Hershiser's record of 59. Long odds of him overtaking that with the late season battles coming up, but very impressive.

Just a month and a few left in the season and I'm enjoying myself. I'm also 20+ games up in my fantasy league, so you gotta like that. If you haven't been watching, please do. Plenty of good games and good stories around the league, including the rebirth of Rick Ankiel. Sure, he's a Cardinal, but seems like a nice guy regardless.