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Vinny Chulk was pretty much the lone bright spot in yesterday's matinee thumping by the Yankees, and though he pitched two scoreless innings, it was serious pulse-racing time for the rookie. Vinny almost hyperventilated out there, bringing a mound visit by Orlando Hudson to calm him down. As Spencer Fordin notes, "This was like Chris Rock telling Denis Leary to clean up the act."

Elsewhere, Roy Halladay was named the Pepsi American League Pitcher of the Week. If MLB were smart, in addition to being the greedy, shortsighted sellouts they are, they'd have Coke sponsor the National League Players of the Week, so at least we'd get a real interleague rivalry going. Or maybe pay fans in opposing sections at the World Series to chant "Tastes great!" and "Less filling!" And when is General Motors going to get its own team? They're a larger market than any ML city except New York and greater Los Angeles. Headquarter the Expos in Dearborn, Michigan, change the team name to Chevrolets, and have them play all their games on the road (not such a big change); with a $300 million payroll, they'll be able to travel by Concorde everywhere anyway. I foresee great clashes with the McDonald's BigMax and the MasterCard Everywhereyouwannabes. Pardon me, I think I just choked on a sour grape.

Elsewhere, the Texas Rangers finished punishing Juan Gonzalez for vetoing the trade to Montreal earlier this year by placing him on the 60-day DL. I wouldn't be surprised to see the players' union take an interest in this, but I don't have a great deal of sympathy for Juan Gone, and even less for the Rangers. Note to GMs everywhere: no-trade clauses are more trouble than they're worth. Avoid, avoid.

The White Sox won the opener of their showdown with the Twins last night, as Bartolo Colon pitched a complete game (his seventh!) and gave the ChiSox a one-game lead in the AL Central. Remember when the White Sox looked absolutely sick against Toronto earlier this year? I was one of many people who wrote them off for dead then; Kenny Williams, whom I still don't much like, didn't, traded for the likes of Robbie Alomar, and now the Sox are in the thick of it. Second note to GMs: often, the best move you make is simply not to panic. Cf. Vernon Wells, Colorado Rockie in a horrible alternate universe.
Notes from Somewhere | 10 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Andrew Edwards - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 10:11 AM EDT (#92395) #
"This was like Chris Rock telling Denis Leary to clean up the act."

I have no idea what this means.
_Jordan - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 10:13 AM EDT (#92396) #
Sorry, I missed a line. It now reads: "...a mound visit by Orlando Hudson to calm him down."
Mike Green - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 11:05 AM EDT (#92397) #
What with the GM Chevrolets and the McDonalds BigMax replacing the Expos and the Twins in 2006, Curt Shilling should have a job until he's 60. Is nothing free from corporate affiliation anymore?
Pepper Moffatt - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 11:19 AM EDT (#92398) #
http://economics.about.com
And when is General Motors going to get its own team? They're a larger market than any ML city except New York and greater Los Angeles.

How do you figure GM is larger than Chicago?

Mike
_Spencer Fordin - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 11:33 AM EDT (#92399) #
http://www.bluejays.com
As much as I'd like to take credit for a good pop culture reference, that wasn't me. That was a clever gentleman named Tom Singer filling in for me in Manhattan.
_Mick - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 11:42 AM EDT (#92400) #
You know the NBA turned down the Vancouver Grizzlies request upon their move to Memphis to rename their team the "Memphis Express," with full sponsorship by American Express.

It's only a matter of time, people.

A few modest name proposals ...
The Alaska Pipelines (a tobacco company, of course)
The California Raisins (duh ... that's too easy)
The Dallas Little Debbies (Work that one out ...)
The Jacksonville Daniels Whiskey (A reach, I know)
The Time-Warner Braves (Oh! Wait a minute!)
The Boston Market Chickens (Please, oh please ...)
The New York Peppermint Patties (With a "Peanuts" tie-in, no less!)

Next?
_Ryan - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 12:09 PM EDT (#92401) #
Aren't the minor league Vancouver Canadians sponsored by Molson?
_Matthew Elmslie - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 12:37 PM EDT (#92402) #
And let's not forget all those broadcast of 'Labatt's Blue Jays Baseball on CTV'.
_susdajaysfan - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 02:42 PM EDT (#92403) #
Jus a comment bout Vinne Chulk. I dont think the Jays see him as a bullpen guy because he has a good enuff arm to be a starter at the major leagues. Although the Yankees were up 9-3 the fact is Carlos Tosca brought him in against the meat of the Yankees order in Yankee Stadium and that will rattle any pitcher making his major league debut. On top of that Jeter gets on base by an infield single and then Delgado makes a fielding error leading to first and third nobody out instead of two outs and nobody on. That can rattle even the best of pitchers so imagine a pitcher making his debut. But then he manages to strike out Matsui who has the most RBI's on the team and gets out of the inning without a ball leaving the infield. The point to this little recap is that Tosca really tested Chulk and he passed with flying colours. It says a lot bout this kid and I personally think that any one who thinks that Chulk is a relief pitcher is jus wasting a good arm. This kid can pitch and can start in the big leagues. I think he is in the bullpen now cause they want him to get his feet wet and then next spring the Jays will give him a chance for the fifth spot because at the moment it looks like only Halladay and Hendrickson have rotation spots. Again I would not be surprised if Hendrickson is not included. I think J.P will be able to bring in one quality starter cause lets face it he is only human!!! so that leaves two spots for the rotation. And none of the other prospects are ready. So to all the batters box readers I think after yesterdays performance its time to give this kid the credit he deserves.
_David Armitage - Tuesday, September 09 2003 @ 03:53 PM EDT (#92404) #
You know the NBA turned down the Vancouver Grizzlies request upon their move to Memphis to rename their team the "Memphis Express," with full sponsorship by American Express.

Actually, it was Michael Heisley who wanted to sell part of the team to Fred Smith, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Federal Express. It was probably a good move in the long run, he couldn't even manage a CFL team there
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