Baseball in the Daytime: Hot Diggety Dog

Apparently, there was a hot dog eating contest over the weekend, and apparently, some guy not named Kobayashi -- Joey Chestnut downed 68 for his second consecutive title and a world record -- won the thing. Now, I kind of loathe the phrase "only in America," but this is one event where I would make the exception. I find this contest absolutely disgusting, but I sure do love me some hot dogs. Had one on Sunday, even. Right after I took one for the team and took the most burnt bratwurst on the tray. Seems as though, what with Memorial Day, graduations, and Fourth of July, I've had quite a few dogs lately. In fact, my sister-in-law and I were talking about this last evening. One day last week, she had three dogs in three different settings in a 24-hour period. And apparently, she could've squeezed down another. She, uh, has this way with words, shall I say. She summed the experience by saying, "Three weiners in one day. Who'd've thunk it?" Approximately seven minutes later, over by the display of M&Ms and mixed nuts, she, downing a mouthful said, "Mmm. Chocolate nuts."

But baseball. Baseball. I've noticed a pattern. In yesterday's day baseball affair (link, cough), there were a bunch of National League day games, whereas in today's there're three American League and one N.L. tilt to wrap things up. Come with me, over the jump, and find out all about it.

Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 11:08 Central: It's Roy Halladay as the visitor in today's first contest. He faces David Price and the Bay Rays in a battle of wits and sliders. Halladay's 10-win first half, coupled with his below-three E.R.A. has been incredible. Price will have his work cut out for him as he comes in at 2-3 with a plus-five. Lucky for he and the Tampa crew, they have a four and-a-half game lead over the Jays in the A.L. East, which is surprising, considering some of the flash Toronto has, on occasion, shown this year. They lock up on DirecTV 721, XM 176.

New York @ Minnesota, 12:10: Precisely one hour and two minutes later, Alfredo Aceves will battle with Glen Perkins. Except that he won't; the Twinkie on the hill will actually be Francisco Liriano. Perkins, apparently, is ill and will go tomorrow instead. But anyway, Liriano comes with a 4-8 record, a 5.49 E.R.A., is fully loaded and available for 1.9 percent financing. Aceves, on the other hand, has strung together a quiet 5-1 record with a 2.03 E.R.A., from the 'pen. The pinstripe front office was going to give him the nod two weeks ago when CC Sabathia's chances of starting looked shaky. Today he's a definite go in place of Chien-Ming Wang, who's 2009 has looked shaky. They'll hate on one another on DirecTV 722 and 723, or over on XM 177.

Cleveland @ Chicago, 1:05: Matchup number three is a duel of southpaws as David Huff faces Clayton Richard and the White Stockings. Each hurler has one fewer loss than wins, and E.R.A.s they'd like to whittle down a bit. I keep expecting Cleveland to get their act together and get out of the A.L. Central, but when you lose eight of your last 10, that's hard to do. Chicago, conversely, has done the opposite. Watch these jerks play baseball on DirecTV 724, 725, or listen to their jerkiness on XM 178.

St. Louis @ Milwaukee, 1:05: For the league of hitting pitchers, it's right-hander Joel Pineiro against lefty Manny Parra. Though the Cardinal's record (6-9) doesn't speak volumes about his season, his 3.39 E.R.A. tells a bit more of the story. Another missing piece is that he's gotten very little run support in his appearances thus far. Parra, on the other hand, will make his first start in a month for the Brew Crew. After early-season struggles, he was sent down, where he wasn't all that much better. Either way, he takes the mound in the bottoms of the innings today at Miller Park. Don't believe me? Check DirecTV 726 or 727, or listen for his name on XM 183.

That's your slab today, folks. Enjoy some baseball, and hell, have a hot dog for lunch while you're at it.
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Baseball in the Daytime: 4-7-09

The second day of this 2009 baseball season only had one contest penciled in on the original docket, but due to a big barrel full of professional-athlete pussies inclement weather, a couple of yesterday's games had to get shoved forward, which I'm guessing means that the teams involved will play on Thursday instead of having an off day. Remember that one time when the NHL cancelled it's New Year's Day game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, 'cause it was too brisk? Or how about the countless times you settled in for a Sunday afternoon of football, only to discover that the games were postponed due to sudden flurries.

Gimme a break. Put on your Under Armor and play ball, already. Today's threesome, however, one click away.

Kansas City @ Chicago, 1:05 Central: Yesterday's scheduled tilt is back on the books, folks, and it promises to be two things: cold, and maybe full of good starting pitching. Gil Meche gets the nod for the Royals; it's Mark Buehrle for the Stockings. Neither of the satellite guides have the game down on their schedule, but if you're in the KC metro area, your tube should have it on FSKC, while your box can bring you the calls via 610 AM.

Tampa Bay @ Boston, 3:05: Yesterday's other "PPD" match has James Shields and Josh Beckett geared to go. You're on your own as to where to find that one.

Milwaukee at San Francisco, 3:05: On the other side of the country, it'll be Jeff Suppan and Tim Lincecum grappling in this battle of non-lefties. Suppan continues to plug along in his career and garner relative success wherever he winds up. He went 10-10 as a Brewer last year; 12-12, and 12-7 the previous two seasons in St. Louis. The home-team Giants know that they have a dynamo in Lincecum, and hope that he'll manage to keep another low E.R.A. this year, like his 2.62 of 2008. XM has this one for ya's. It's on 183.

See there? Easy as pie. Now enjoy. That's an order.
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Baseball In The Daytime: 4-10-08

There's a little less attention on the diamond today, with the opening round of the Masters getting underway. Whether or not you're a golf guy, the Masters is something you notice--it's the one tournament my dad still watches, for instance. I blew it assembling our pool this year, it snuck up on me.

Turning back to MLB, it's Thursday, and that means a handful of getaway games before the weekend series. So take a peek at today's schedule, and maybe you'll find something to occupy your eyeballs until the broadcast from Augusta gets underway at 2:00 Mountain...

Seattle @ Tampa Bay, 10:40 The leadoff contest today is an early tilt at the Trop in Tampa. Even with all of their bullpen foibles, the Mariners stand on the precipice of sweeping the Bay-Rays. Starting assignments go to Miguel Batista, who's horrible but is an accomplished writer and once gave my wife an autograph, and Edwin Jackson, who's just horrible.

Cincinnati @ Milwaukee, 11:05 With every passing day, the Reds bandwagon swells with membership. They hammered the Brew Crew 12-4 yesterday, and they stand to win the series behind ace Aaron Harang today. Carlos Villanueva is your Brewers' starter.

Atlanta @ Colorado, 1:05 The slumbering lumber finally awoke at Coors last night. The Rox plated a dozen runs against the Braves, this after scoring the same amount through the first week of the season. Holliday is finally heating up, and the timely hits with runners on are showing up. Tim Hudson is charged with slowing down the onslaught today, while Jeff Francis tries to turn in his first non-dismal start of the year.

Baltimore @ Texas, 3:05 Yesterday's rainout necessitates today's doubleheader, with Game One dropping the puck under the Lone Star sunshine (or perhaps more rain). The Orioles, yes the Orioles, are the hottest team in the whole damn sport and have yet to lose a game in the month of April. This is better than going undefeated in, say, January, because these games count! Bud Selig, feel free to use that line in pimping the mighty Baltimore Orioles. Steve Trachsel starts today against Kevin Millwood, making this pretty much the most unwatchable pile of crap game ever imagined, but remember--the Orioles are on fire!

So whether you're driving the fairway at Augusta or facing a 79-mph Trachsel heater, keep your head down, and Play Ball!
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Baseball in the Daytime: 9-19-07

The fat man takes the mound today. Oh. Wait. No he doesn't. Ervin Santana does. Fat man's got a stiffystiffness in his back. But that's only one of three afternoon matchups today in the bigs. Perhaps the most important (in terms of playoff implications) comes in the form of an AL Central showdown, one that pits C.C. Sabathia of the Tribe against the Detroit Tigers and eight-game winning Nate Robertson, who, to say the least, has his work cut out for him. Catch it on the 182, XM style, at 11:05 Central.

But back to fat dudes with stiffness. The 6-13 Santana and his Los Californaheim Angels look to broom away Las Rayas del Diablo de Tampa Bay. Santana's foe comes in the form of former Royals hurler J.P. Howell who hopefully doesn't boast about his 1-4 record or his 7.36 ERA. Tune in to this matchup on the SatelliteRadios, aka the XM 179, around, say 2:35ish.

Finally, the team formerly known as the Kansas City As, hosts the still-alive Seattle Mariners. Though the visiting team's chances for a post-season bid continue to fade with the surgence of Yankee victories, they'll put their stock in 12-game winner Felix Hernandez today as he faces the winless Dan Meyer. This game airs at the same time the Angels/Rays game, only one channel lower on the XM dial. Catch the fever that is baseball in the daytime. Read more