Inglett and Co. Strut Into Philadelphia

OK... so... um... you're right. That's not actually a picture of Joe Inglett.

The internet, it turns out, is kind of shit for pictures of Joe Inglett. However, I was able to find a picture of Bruce Allison Inglett, which, if you ask me, is just as good. His picture, I might add, was easy to find. It was right there on the official Lincoln County Georgia website. . . in their registered sex offender database. Note to self: do not name male children "Allison". (Oh and sorry ladies, he's currently incarcerated).

Anyway, what was I going to say? Oh yeah...

Offensive explosion! Playoffs!

OK, so three runs in however-many-innings-that-was isn't all that impressive, but who cares? I'm not about to look a gift win in the mouth. Are you?

(Incidentally, gift wins, looking and mouths were the main topics of a Tao of Stieb post back on April 27th, where they also made the first recorded declaration that Scott Rolen is the greatest Blue Jay of all time. Almost simultaneously, I'd been writing that he'd instantaneously become my favourite Blue Jay of all time, which evolved into the "greatest" over time. In other words, I think they're right. The bloody Taoists said it first.)

As for the game, I'm serious... I'm afraid to break this one down for fear of jinxing the Jays' latest run by somehow putting my finger on whatever the hell it is that has caused their luck to turn. I realize that's extremely unlikely to happen, and total bullshit, but I don't care. I'm not taking the risk.

Interleague!
Jesus, Parkes. Tell us how you really fucking feel. (Is it gay? I'll bet it's gay.)

It appears as though my friend here is already in full-on hate mode for this weekend's massive, epic, ball-busting series against the Phillies, and his post got me wondering just how the City of Brotherly Love is gearing up for the resumption of this fierce, age-old rivalry with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Turns out... theeeeey're kinda not into it.

I could barely find a word on the upcoming series in the Philadelphia press, or among any of their blogs, save for one nugget of wet, breathless anticipation from Paul Hagen of the Daily News:

Interleague play has arrived once again as the Phillies prepare to play their natural American League rivals. That, of course, would be the Toronto Blue Jays. While waiting for the first pitch, please select the appropriate video clip from the following menu. Press 1 for Plague of Locusts. Press 2 for Doomsday Thunderclouds. Press 3 for Owners Sitting Around Counting Money.

Just teasing. All the arguments against this no-longer-novel novelty have been outlined before in this tiny little corner of the baseball universe. And yet, it continues. Press 3.

He then goes on to give us seven paragraphs about the Yankees and the Mets. That's some fine previewin', Hagen!

But OK, to be fair, it's possible that everybody who'll be covering this series was too busy bracing themselves for explosion of wisdom that will undoubtedly come from the crossing of paths of Richard Griffin and his long lost brother, Daily News columnist Bill Conlin. Just think of all that potential for douchebaggery in one press box. Awesome.

Shoeneweis Doesn't Understand Fans Not Booing
This looks like the kind of headline that would lead to a real zinger in the direction of the Jays' former LOOGY shitbag. But it's for real! Mets fans have stopped booing Scott Shoeneweis, for some reason...

Well.. OK. It's because Willie Randolph has (finally) stopped using him to face right-handed hitters. So I guess it kind of makes sense that he might not suck so much this year, but that still isn't making it any less confusing to ol' Scott-- who explained as much to the New York Observer after he received "one of the loudest sustained cheers any player at Shea received this year" last Sunday.

Schoeneweis kept a sense of humor about the fan reaction. He claims never to hear plaudits, only criticism. Therefore, on Sunday, he heard only an absence of boos.

“It was kind of eerie,” said Schoeneweis as he dressed at his locker prior to New York’s 1-0 loss Thursday to the Washington Nationals. “You get used to it, I guess. It’s like people who live in the city and move to the country, how they can’t sleep nights.”

David Steinhart
I know we're not usually into saying anything too serious around here, but I won't let that stop me from expressing how saddened I was to hear of the sudden passing of David Steinhart. I have the radio on my alarm clock set, naturally, to the Fan590, and I can't count the number of mornings I've made a point of staying in bed long enough to catch the Money Game before starting my day. The fact that his wife is due to give birth to their first child in July makes the news all the more heartbreaking. Here's a nice tribute from the Financial Post. Our thoughts are with his family.