Pleasant Surprise

So baseball, to have two teams in the midst of standings hell come together for a riveting game.  Conditions were ideal for a pitchers' night, and the two starters dueled until one cracked.

The drama -- as we now have been told -- was created not by the players themselves, but by the presence of the Stanley Cup, which is has grown into the rough equivalent of the Lost Ark of the Covenant.

So we enjoy a thrilling night, marvel at how such things can happen, and get on with it.

Lou Piniella says Tyler Colvin needs to play more, and will start seeing more regular action in the Cubs' outfield.  I vaguely remember (since it must have been a while ago) Lou lashing out angrily at a baseball analyst who dared to suggest such an increase in playing time, but I think I might have dreamt it.

A.J. Pierzynski has now vested as a 10-5'er, and remains a member of the White Sox.  Trading him was a more attractive option when observers believed Tyler Flowers was good.

I actually watched the USA/England game Saturday afternoon, and found it mildly entertaining.  But here's the deal:  if those locust-cloud plastic horns do not disappear, I am done.   That is aural torture on the level of Bears postgame callers.

And another tough watch was the collapse of Robert Garrigus on the 18th yesterday at the St. Jude Classic.  Memories of Jean Van de Velde flooded back as he blew a three-shot lead with a double-bogey on the final hole, and then put his drive behind a tree on the first playoff hole.  US Open starts Thursday at Pebble Beach, with Tiger Woods back in focus.