Baseball in the Daytime: It's (Almost) All Right

One of these days, you'll come to the House of Georges and find something new and different. I'm not sure when or who will've written it, so until then, you're stuck with our tired old schpeel. I had an idea for breaking the rut, but I keep putting it off because it involves a lot of work. Let's just say it has something to do with ol' George of the Pink here. But we'll get to him in a minute. Meantime, it's day baseball on a Thursday, which, for several weeks now, has meant that there's a sixer on the line. Hop past the leap and see if that pans out again.

Rangers @ Yankees, 12:05 Central: Two .500+, fourish E.R.A. right-handers kick off day baseball today. It's Dustin Nippert and A.J. Burnett at Yankee Stadium. New York continues to play some pretty good August baseball, now with a six-game A.L. East lead over Boston, while Texas keeps chugging after the Angels of Los Angeles. Both starters, Nippert against the Rays and Burnett against Boston, got smoked in their last outings. They'll look to rebound this afternoon. DirecTV helps you watch: 721, 722. XM doesn't mind if you listen: 176.

Mets @ Marlins, 12:10: Dualing righties highlight our second match as well as Tim Redding and Anibal Sanchez take the Land Shark hill. These fellas aren't having success either in the record or the E.R.A. column, and now's the time to turn that around for Florida, who's seven back of N.L. East-leading Philadelphia. The Mets are all but done for. See DirecTV for bad Met evidence: 723, 724. Listen in on the XMs on 183.

Reds @ Brewers, 1:05: Don't look now, but starting lefties are looking scarce for this afternoon. Our third tilt features Justin Lehr, and fresh-off-the-DL Dave Bush. These two clubs are fighting for middle-of-the-N.L. Central-pack bragging rights, and things don't look good for Cincinnati. They're 18 1/2 back, while Milwaukee's deadlocked with Houston. DirecTV 727, XM 184 are your locks.

Astros @ Cardinals, 1:15: Hey, look: Brian Moehler and Chris Carpenter are slated to take the mound today at Busch Stadium. They have one thing in common: They don't throw with their left hands. Moheler gets the nod for a Houston club that had some late-summer success after a poor spring/early summer, but they've dropped three straight, and are a dozen back of the Red Birds. All's Carpenter's done is throw up a 14-3, 2.16 campaign so far. His 111:23 strikeout-to-walk ratio is also less than impressive. Your hot N.L. Central action's on DTV 725, 726, or you can listen to the sizzle on XM 185.

Nationals @ Cubs, 1:20: Would you believe it? J.D. Martin and Randy Wells are your ninth and 10th consecutive right-handed starters for this afternoon's baseball affairs. The Cubs are tinkering with dropping below .500 at a time when they really can't afford it. Meanwhile, Washington has closed the worst-in-baseball chase with Kansas City to three games. Martin's been mediocre for a bad team; Wells has been impressive for a mediocre team. DirecTV lets you decide, assuming you'll tune in to 307, 728, or 729. XM's unbiased; they'll have it all on 186.

Dodgers @ Rockies, 2:10: Wow. Thanks a fucking lot, Jorge De La Rosa. You screwed our all non-southpaw rotation up by being the odd man out. His 12-8 lefty ass takes on Vicente Padilla (8-6) to wrap things up today in easily the most standings-important contest of the afternoon. Just as everything was in line for a siege, Colorado went out and let L.A. take 'em 6-1 yesterday at Coors Field, but fear not: The Rocks still have a Wildcard edge over the Giants by three games. I can't believe that De La Rosa's gotten enough run support -- he has a 4.76 E.R.A. -- to have won a dozen games. I also can't believe that Padilla's making a start for the Dodgers, what with all he did for Texas this year. Thankless bastards. Anyway, 213, 730, 731 are your DirecTV channels. If you're listening, XM appreciates you tuning to 187.

Another Thursday six-pack in the books, kids. Let's root for those Rockies to stab those Dodgers out of first, as well as any racist fans of N.L. L.A. baseball.