Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for July 28, 2011 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Angels pitcher Ervin Santana pitched a no-hitter yesterday against Cleveland, winning the game 3-1.
- The Mets are trading Carlos Beltran to the Giants. The Mets get cash and righthanded pitching prospect Zach Wheeler.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates filed a formal complaint with the Baseball Commissioner over the call at the plate the other night. (See #3 below.) VP for Baseball Operations, Joe Torre, admits the call was blown, but it's "part of the game."
- Reports have New Orleans running back Reggie Bush heading to Miami, and Washington defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth going to the Patriots.
- The Jets have a deal with wide receiver Santonio Holmes for five years, a reported $50 million, $24 million guaranteed.
2. Bye Bye Carlos Now that Carlos Beltran will be heading from the Mets to the Giants, two things come to mind. 1) Has a guy ever cashed in so magnificently on one postseason? In 2004 he bashed eight homers for Houston. That translated into the heftiest contract in Mets history. Seven years, $119 million. 2) The Mets getting eliminated in game 7 by St. Louis in 2006, Beltran taking a called third strike with the bases loaded to end it. But in truth, a third, and more important thing should come to mind. Carlos Beltran was a pro through and through. A stand up guy who never wilted in the lights of the big city. He should leave New York with his head high. The fact the Mets haven't sniffed the playoffs since that fateful strikeout is not his fault.
3. The Eye of the Beholder Love how definitive some people are, referring to the Pirates losing run the other night in the 19th inning as "the worst call I've ever seen." Others, not so much. * Rich M. Tweeted me @LenBermanSports, "I've watched a ton of times and I think it's inconclusive." * J.A. on Twitter, "I don't want instant replay, but that call was completely inexcusable." * Subscriber Bruce C. "That's not a definite tag. The throw certainly beats the runner, but did he get the tag down? If we can't tell in numerous slow-motion angles, it's a judgement call. I have to support the umpire on this one." * Chuck A. "Worst regular season call EVER. Clearly the ump just wanted to go home." So it's a mixed bag. Right there is the argument AGAINST instant replay. 4. Color Blindsided OK, now we've heard everything. Boise State moved into the Mountain West Conference, but they won't be allowed to wear their traditional blue jerseys. They play on a blue football field. Too much blue? Or might it be because they have a 77-2 record on blue artificial turf. The other coaches in the league call it a "competitive advantage." For some reason the rule doesn't apply to teams that wear green uniforms on green fields. Talk about a Mickey Mouse league.
5. Let the Games Begin Subscriber Mort F. asks a great question. With the London Olympics starting in a year, he wonders, "Who will light the Olympic flame?"
His nominees: David Beckham, Pippa Middleton, Rupert Murdoch.
I've said it before. I hate it when my subscribers are more clever than I. Happy Birthday: Senator Bill Bradley, the Princeton and Knicks great. 68.Bonus Birthday: The world's cutest sports fan, not to mention the smartest. Eli Berman. 1.
Today in Sports: Yankee pitcher Tommy John boots a ground ball, then throws wildly to first base. On the relay, he throws home and that misses the mark too. Tommy committed three errors on one play. The Yankees beat Milwaukee anyway 16-3. 1988.Bonus Event: The first singing telegram. 1933.
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