Puzzled Pickled Pecklers Pursue Power

I was litterally about to post this piece when I was logged into by Larry Dot Net, who said I needed to use the above title. We have a grand total of 6.5 hitting points, so let the phone ring. Or better yet, send an email. After all, we're email guys.

LDN wanted me to add another word beginning with P that means suck. I suggested Psuck, which is kind of like Psoriasis.

By the way, no one actually logs onto Larry Dot Net...they are logged onto by LDN. It's kind of like the way the defense department computer called back Matthew Broderick in "War Games."

Anyway, onto a bunch of bullet point observations for this weekend:

Speaking of psuck, check out the featured picture above, and in his D-Rays cap! Tyler Walker got a save in his first post-Giants outing for the Devil Rays this week. Yesterday he came into the ninth with a 6-5 lead and gave up 4 runs. Beware those ex-Felipe dead-armed relief pitchers.

Brett Tomko picked up a nice win yesterday in San Diego to bring his record to 3-1. He gave up 2 runs, 5 hits and no walks in seven innings. Tomko is a notorious slow starter, but he certainly showed some fearsome stuff in 2004 when he is right.

Tomko beat the Pecklers’ own Chad Hensley in his 3rd career start. Hensley also went 7 innings, giving up 3 ER, 3 hits and 4 walks. He increased his pitch count to 87. There is nothing scarier than having a safe middle reliever become a starter (he replaced the ill-fated Brazleton in the Padres’ rotation). This is particularly true because we have over half of our BABI points in ERA and WHIP. What’s to fear: Any 9 just crossed 30 points in the wrong direction, and his deal with the Cartel has yet to take effect.

Speaking of Any 9, their ace, Justin Vargas, almost earned a Bullinger yesterday: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB. Not quite award winning – more earned runs next time, please.

We got to see Tom Glavine’s stinker on Monday, but he threw a beauty yesterday, shutting out Atlanta over seven innings for win #280. It’s really amazing what he and Greg Maddux are doing, but you’ve got to be suspicious about how well their arms will hold up through the summer.

Roberto Hernandez picked up his 2nd save of the season in Pittsburgh. Mike Gonzalez came in for the save in the 9th, but he walked two guys while only getting one out, and Hernandez came in to mop up. Not a good sign for Gonzalez and his owner, The Old Bat, but guess who has Hernandez and his 1.765 WHIP at a buck? Yup, Mr. Leaguer. He is tough in the end game.

David Aardsma gave up 3 runs, 4 hits and 3 walks in 2.1 IP in that Brewers blowout yesterday to bring his ERA up to 10.50. Aardsma was in that deal last year along with the demoted Jerome Williams for LaTroy Hawkins. Since he’s in the AL (Baltimore, traded for Steve Kline), I had no idea how he was doing this season, so I’ve looked it up: 0-0, 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP in 11.1 innings. He’s only struck out 4. He had a big contract, and he’s starting to look his age. It will be interesting to see over the season if Felipe wore out his arm too. Meanwhile, last season’s trade looks to be a nothing for nothing that cost the Giants a couple of million dollars.

Just when I’ve seen Carlos Delgado look super-human and wrote about it, he puts up this stinker: 4 AB’s, 4 K’s.

Reggie Abercrombie got a hit today. His 1 for 5 brought his average UP to .175. He’s just creaming Eric Reed (.083).

Andy Petitte got smoked by the Reds yesterday for 11 hits and 3 walks in 5 innings, bringing his ERA up to 5.25. Was 2005 a fluke?

The Yankees scored in every inning yesterday. I saw a big headline, that’s why I know, because, as you know, I really don’t look at AL box scores. That was kind of an ugly win for Randy Johnson, 5 innings, 6 hits, 6 ER, 4 walks. We’ve all gotten the occasional numbers killing win like that. You gulp and look at the bright side – you got a win. It goes along with the blown save – win.

While I’m looking at the right side of the page, I see some guy named Carlos Silva (I swear, I don’t know who he is) had a nice line for Minnesota against the Tigers yesterday: 2.2 IP, 9 H and 9 ER. No Bullinger, though, because first, he’s in the AL, and nothing there counts, and second, he didn’t walk anyone. You’ve gotta walk people to get a Bullinger.

More AL...Hmmm…Jim Thome, homer number 10. Good for him. Must be nice hitting in front of Paul Konerko. Both guys are ex-Pickled Pecklers. We had drafted Konerko as a minor leaguer, but he didn’t turn into a ball player until he crossed over to the dark side.

Back to the good guys: Neifi Perez, .171. That’s more like it. I can't believe we wasted money on that stiff.

John Rodriguez is hitting .360. When are they going to just stick him in the lineup and let him play every day?

Hanley Ramirez – player. I have to make a note to go see the Marlins when they come to town.

Corey Lidle lost a tough game yesterday, giving up only 4 hits and no walks over 6 innings. Maybe Jeff really got that one right, but he’s not a buck. He lost yesterday to Paul Maholm, one of the Voglesong-type hype guys, who got his first win of the season and brought his ERA down to 5.86.

Raffy Furcal’s finger has got to be hurt, with that .198 BA. We’re giving him the finger-we gave up Andruw for him. Speaking of that, check out Robert Wuhl’s “Assume the Position” on HBO, in which he traces giving the finger back to the 100 years war. It’s hilarious.

Are Borowski and Borkowski the same guy?

Finally, Albert Pujols, $59. Keeper.