=== Retool, dept. ===

You could theoretically claim that, if the M's were to tip over their King early, that they could get on with decisions that would help them in 2011-12.

In this specific case, that would mean very little:

.

• They're trying to convince Cliff Lee to come back in 2011-14, so why deal him for a pittance*
  
• It's not "hunting season" and not the right time to sell off anyway
  
• Lineup-wise, I somehow doubt that cyber-Seattle is clamoring for Matt Tuiasosopo's PT
• The Ken Griffey Jr. situation is being resolved
• etc.
  

Nah, I think that down 15 in the second quarter, the M's should dive harder for loose balls than they were in the first quarter.

.

=== Bullies, dept. ===

As you know, Dr. D's number one pet peeve is the guy who loves to fight when he can't lose -- and who passes by on the other side of the street when a real challenge blocks his way.

Baseball players have a saying, "this game will humble you real quick."  Ballplayers aren't bullies:  they're warriors.  Good, bad, or indifferent, they're out there with the foil on.  It's one of the reasons I spend three hours a night watching 'em.

Mike Sweeney sat on the bench for a month, saying nothing but great things about Ken Griffey Jr.  And the same man, this afternoon, dipped his back knee to the ground, hit a pitcher's pitch to left center, and the ball carried 409 feet into the bullpen.  This brought his team back from a 4-1 defeat to a 5-4 victory.

Mike Sweeney is a man's man.  And baseball is flat-out fun to watch.

.....

From a fan's standpoint:  Bill James has been waiting for the Royals for 25 years... "I believe in waiting out the losing, watching the kids figure things out.  It makes the winning more fun."

We knew this was a re-tool when Zduriencik got here.  Forty games' worth of walkoff losses are no reason to start firing .45-cal rounds through the cockpit door.  A real battle -- and fans are vicariously in one -- demands courage when things are going badly.  Only then do you enjoy the medal later.

.

=== Heroes, dept. ===

Early in his career, I used to loathe Magic Johnson.  Prima donna Showtime camera hog, let the game get tight and he'd drive the lane, lose the ball, yell "OHHHHHHH!" and his good buds the refs would send him to the line.  Showtime's easy when you got the other guys outmanned 7-to-5.

But when Magic lost to Michael Jordan, my opinion of Magic changed.  As Michael wasted him game after game with the world watching, Magic stepped up to the podium, looked everybody in the eye, and said "Sometimes it goes well, and sometimes it doesn't."  And proceeded to lavish huge praise on his conqueror...

I don't care how high you can swing your Nikes up from the rim after you dunk when up 20.  You don't earn respect that way.

I care what you look like when you're down 15.   And I'm more impressed with Zduriencik and Wakamatsu in crisis -- such as the way Wok reacts to these situations -- than I was last year, when everybody solemnly declared them geniuses.

...............

Last two days, our #4 and #5 against two great starting pitchers, and we won 'em both.  Keep at 'em, boyz.

See you at the ballpark,

Dr D

.....................

* a pittance "delta" relative to the FA comp