Video after the jump. Really.

See that message behind the home plate umpire:

VOTE BREWERS
brewers.com

Remember, MLB teams are promoting their own players for the All Star Game. A popularity contest or tribute to those truly deserving to be selected as starters? When particular teams are over-represented relative to their populations, like Texas was after the first round of voting results, this is exactly why and how it happens. The marketing departments for each team implore the fans to “vote early and vote often” for the home team’s players, deserving or not. So once Teixeira lands the starting gig for the AL 1B spot, you will remember to blame not the players or the fans, but the system. Right?

Exhibition or “it counts”. Just pick one or the other and we can move on.

You cannot have a game that counts with a selection process that is fit for an exhibition.

(big thanks to Ron Rollins for the screengrab)

Earlier this season, umpire Joe West was highly critical of the Yankees and Red Sox and the length of the games they play. West told The Bergen Record, “They’re the two clubs that don’t try to pick up the pace. They’re two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest? It’s pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play….This is embarrassing, a disgrace to all baseball.”

As I detailed yesterday at The Daily Something, Joe West has been a combative umpire for years, bordering on unprofessional. Yesterday, he added to his history of quick hooks and aggressive behavior by antagonizing Mark Buehrle and Ozzie Guillen (though, admittedly, it doesn’t take a lot to antagonize Ozzie Guillen). West has been disciplined and warned about his behavior in the past, but seems to be ramping up his involvement in games recently. As late as 2008, he had been rated as the fourth worst umpire in Major League Baseball. In the wake of his Yankees/Red Sox comments, Tim Kurkjian wrote, “From the beginning, I’ve thought West was one of the worst umpires in baseball. His strike zone is the unholy combination of small and unpredictable, and his attitude is big and unpredictable.”

(Click “view full post” to keep reading)

Pitching was a large part of the Yankees hot start to the 2010 season and it had been a large part of their recent slump, as both reliable starters and crucial parts of the bullpen seemed to struggle.  In the first two games of their series in Minnesota, the Yankees pitchers are dominating again, and while the offense has some catching up to do, they were able to get it done for a second time on Wednesday, giving the Yankees a 3-2 win just hours after completing their 1-0 victory in Tuesday’s suspended game.

Andy Pettitte took the ball for New York and gave the Bombers eight strong and efficient innings.  Minnesota’s offense got on the board early, when Denard Span lead off the bottom of the first inning with a double.  Span stole third base with one out and Joe Mauer singled him in on a liner to center.  Pettitte escaped more trouble by getting Justin Morneau to ground into a double play.

(click “view full post” to read more)