Bring on Barry

"It's a very hard thing to think about, and I'm trying not to think about it. I'm trying to act like it's any other start because it really is. It's just, a big part of history might happen."
(John Lannan, via Washington Times, 8/06/2007)

Hey John Lannan, don't want to be "That Guy"? Just give Barry the Chase Utley treatment!

Actually, Bud might thank you for it.

Tonight, "the most joyless pursuit of a major American sports record" ever collides with a 22-year-old with two (2) career starts under his belt -- and that's if you include his first one, from which, you know, he was ejected.

And after Lannan, it's Mike Bacsik, Tim Redding and Joel Hanrahan. Or take your pick from the 'pen: Ayala, Cordero, King, Rauch, Rivera, Schroder, or Traber. They've all got a shot at immortality this week, but you heard it here first: Hanrahan will be "That Guy" on Thursday. Sorry, Joel.

Meanwhile...   

• Seems somehow fitting that Bud Selig is relying on Frank Robinson to do his dirty work for him. The Steroid Era happened on Bud's watch. His absence at this point is inexcusable.
• Thom Loverro chimes in on Bonds vs. NAAAts: "It would be nice if, while the world is watching, the Nationals keep Bonds in the ballpark, showing everyone the heart — and, yes, talent — of this team that has proved a lot of people wrong, yours truly included." That would be nice.
• We didn't realize Clay Hensley was suspended in 2005 for using steroids.
• What should Kearns do if he gets the ball?
• From the above-linked, must-read Bob Ryan piece in Sunday's Boston Globe: "I say there are three Home Run Titans. Babe was the champ of the Booze and Broads Era. Hank was the champ of the Transition Era. Barry is the champ of the Steroids Era."
• We love baseball injuries! The only professional sport where sneezing or pulling on cowboy boots can put somebody on the shelf. Felipe Lopez hurt his knee; from Nationals dot com: "Lopez has been bothered by the problem for at least a week after bumping his knee on a table while playing with his daughters."
• Nook Logan is making know-it-all bloggers everywhere look stupid. Speaking of idiot bloggers, the one who said of Bonds yesterday "I bet you a dollar Bruce Bochy sits him today so he can break it at home."? Way to go out on a limb there; he only acknowledged as much on Saturday after hitting 755.

(AP Photo/Chris Park)

Comments

[fa-NATS-ic]

He does have a rather charming smile...