Fake Game Held Up by Fake Protest

Altruistic Millionaires stand up to exploitive masters, hold retirees and cranky sportwriters hostage.

And fair play to them. While it could be said that the average Japanese baseball fan isn't going to pack the Tokyo Dome to see Dave Magaden (Happy Best Former Mets! He banished cocaine to the land of Nails and Fruit), good for the Sox for looking out for their support staff.

The game eventually started, and Sal Fasano STOLE A BASE! He was promptly picked off second base, but still. Go on Sal. Shawn Marcum pitched in a minor league game and was lights out.

Elsewhere:

• Brother-in-arms David Chalk applies a fine sheen of hate to Alex Rodriquez. And the Ghostrunners rejoice.
  
• Yankees blog summarize 10 people to avoid at the ballpark, could have saved 300 words by simply saying: "Yankee Fans"
  
• Somehow asshole-avoidance is now known as "collusion"
  
• Bob Costas calls Will Leitch out of blue, tries to come off as though he has a soul. Fails.

This build up is killing me, and I know I'm not alone. Fear not Mr. Stieb, you've been doing a bang up job. Charge the batteries and come back strong.

The Swallowing of Pride

I'm still waiting for the follow-up story informing us that Rod Barajas wants to re-negotiate the contract we've evidently just signed his sorry ass to.

I still remember J.P's words after the last fiasco. He was going to "take the high road" and told fans the Jays would "remember that one." Apparently Jay management has a relatively short memory and were willing to settle for just about anyone to fill the backup catcher void. Yes, it is true that Barajas has seasons of 21 and 15 home runs in the past, but his last two seasons have been offensively dreadful. In just 48 games last season Barajas hit a solid .230 with 4 home runs and 10 RBIs. Look at his glowing career OBP, it's horrific and notably lower than that of Ghost Runner and Earth-inhabitant favorite Sal Fasano. Barajas does bring a decent arm with him, but it's no better than Sal's. If Greg Zaun stays healthy it won't make much of a difference.

When Barajas bolted on the Jays last off-season he signed a one year deal with the Phillies to be their starting catcher. Well, if you don't know how that ended I'll fill you in. He lost the starting job and ended the season with two other guys playing in front of him. He was hitting somewhere around the Mendoza line in early August when he went on the DL with a "I fucking suck so fuck this year" type of injury. Even when this so-called injury healed, he stayed on the DL as the Phils were lacking the space on the roster for him.

I just don't understand this signing. I guess it's not a big deal as Robinzon Diaz will hopefully be ready for the big leagues after this season. Personally, I would have stuck with Fasano rather than someone who already bailed on us once and hits like a girl, but I'm just the shirt burner.