Josh's June News, Notes and Nuggets

U.S. Open Finishes Tight as a Wire

Angel Cabrera sent a message to the youth of the world at Oakmont yesterday: who needs a physique when you've got Marlboro Lights? The 36-year-old Argentine drove his way to the U.S. Open crown with a number of big tee shots, none larger than his smack-down-the-middle leadoff shot on eighteen. Chain smoking all the way, with a sagging waistline to boot, Cabrera was far from the picture of golfing beauty, but he still made enough shots to stymie the Tiger, who fell just one stroke short. It's not a misprint: five over par was enough to win the year's second major, making it more of a survival test than an actual high level competition. But there was still drama at the end, with Woods and Furyk pressing close, but Cabrera managing to puff his way past.

I guess the big winner here---besides Cabrera, of course---was Oakmont itself. Clearly, there's no more difficult a course you could hold a major on.

Interleague Slate Wrapping Up

Some thoughts on the Interleague baseball over the weekend:

Cardinals' fans rejoice! Kip Wells has finally been banished from the starting rotation. Sporting a 2-10 record with an ERA of almost seven, it's been a long time coming for the Pirates' defector. Unfortunately for the Redbirds, Wells' exit to the bullpen means Anthony Reyes gets another shot in the rotation. Called back up from Triple A Memphis, Reyes got a no-decision in a 10-6 win over the A's yesterday. He's still 0-8 on the year with an ERA over six. And you wondered why it feels like Saint Louis has had to come from behind so often this year....

Barry Bonds is an stoppable force. So is Alex Rodriguez. Bonds will get his home run record sometime in the next month when he passes Hank Aaron, but he won't get to keep it for long. Barring a run of unforeseen injuries, A-Rod is on course with destiny for sometime around 2014. Just nine dingers shy of 500---at the age of 30---all you have to do is a little quick math to see that Rodriguez only needs to average 40 longballs a year for the next seven years to get to 800. As amazing as that is to say, it's the absolute truth, and perhaps the only consolation for baseball fans like myself who want no part of watching Barry break Hammerin' Hank's record. A-Rod to the rescue? In this regard, I guess so....

Speaking of records, Pete Rose's career hits mark may not be all that safe either. Once thought untouchable, Charlie Hustle's total of over 4,200 career hits may be in the sights of another Yankee. Derek Jeter is 32 years old and has fifty more hits than Rose did at the same point in his career. A phenomenal base hit guy, DJ still looks and plays young. If he can stay hungry and healthy till he's in his early 40s, Jeter actually has a realistic shot at the mark....

Meanwhile, the Mets have major problems. All of a sudden, my pick---in both heart and mind---for the 2007 World Series crown is looking more and more perilous by the day. Tom Glavine has lost his location, El Duque has lost his zip, the once strong bullpen has sprung leaks all over, and the offense just doesn't have its groove.

Can Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado still turn it around? Of course. But unless the Mets trade for more pitching, or Pedro Martinez comes back and pitches like his younger self---an unlikely proposition---the Mets don't look any more likely to win it all this year than they did a year ago....

75 Days Till Troy!

The Hogs open the 2007 football season on September 1st, and for most folks around the Natural State, it can't come quickly enough. For a Razorback nation so snake-bitten by gossip, drama and hearsay over the last 12 months, it's ultimately going to take a new gridiron slate to fully wash last year's clean. Not that there aren't blocks to build upon from a year ago---ten overall wins, 7-1 in the SEC West, D-Mac and Felix, Monk as a go-to wideout, Antowain Robinson as an elite pass-rushing force, to name a few---there's still some hangover as well. Over what? How about a three game losing streak to close the year? How about the names Malzahn and Mustain and Williams? How bout Mama-gate? And Broyles-gate? And Bragg-gate? Or the McAfee stuff?

Yes, the sooner the 2007 season gets here, the better for Hogs' fans everywhere.


-JAB