Apr 27, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Paul Maholm (28) delivers to the plate during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Cubs defeated the Phillies 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

I get it.  Slumps happen.  I tell myself that this whole thing is still just a relatively small sample size, but still watching a guy who wasn’t good enough to pitch for the Pirates out pitch Roy Halladay is just down right sack punchingly difficult to watch.  This game caused me to forget myself and say the “f” word in front of my impressionable young nephew.  The only solace I can take from my inability to control my emotions is that I am fairly positive that his father was uttering the same expletive at the same time.

The Phillies lost this game 5-1.  Roy Halladay pitched seven innings and allowed three runs.  Paul Maholm went 6 1/3 innings and allowed one run. Let me go over that one more time for you.  Paul Maholm, not a different Maholm who can actually pitch, but the very same terrible Paul Maholm who can into the game with an inflated ERA and suspect control. (more…)

My nickname is Chooch. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Watching Prince Fielder play first base for the Detroit Tigers brings me back to my youth. The year is 1990.  Detroit is captivated by a rotund slugger how proceeds to lead the majors in home runs, RBI and hamburger commercials starred in.  He was the first player since George Foster in 1977 to hit 50 home runs and since this predated the steroid era, people seemed to be pretty happy about it.  He was listed at 6’3″ and 230 pounds.  Cecil Fielder’s left leg probably weighed about 220, so this listing may have been slightly inaccurate.   (more…)