Many happy returns: The most highly anticipated return to the mound this year takes place tonight. Fans have waited months to finally see their key starter rejoin their rotation just in time to save them from third-place oblivion. That’s right, folks
… AJ Burnett is back! Kidding. Burnett does return to the mound for the Blue Jays in Atlanta tonight, and a healthy and effective Burnett bolsters the Jays’ rotation; but there’s a slightly more newsworthy return about 810 miles west of Turner Field. Roger Clemens finally makes his season debut for the Astros at Minute Maid Park in a nationally televised game against the Twins tonight. The Astros have been meandering around the .500 mark for most of the season and feel that the Rocket’s return will give them the boost they need in the NL Central. One, small thing, however: Clemens might not be the best pitcher on the field. Twins phenom Francisco Liriano, about half Clemens’s age, starts for the Twins. Liriano is 6-1, with a 2.16 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
Perhaps a crowbar?: That’s what you might need to take the smile off Tony LaRussa’s face right now. How could LaRussa be smiling, after his Cardinals have been outscored 33-11 in two games by the White Sox? Because the Cardinals received the wonderful news that the wonderful Albert Pujols could return to the lineup as soon as Monday against Cleveland. Pujols, out since June 3 with a strained oblique muscle, took batting practice and did some running the past few days and could be in the lineup even sooner. It would be a godsend for the Cardinals, who’ve been able to maintain their division lead in the NL Central since their star slugger went down. Pujols is still tied for the league lead with 25 homers and fell only one RBI behind Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard despite missing the last 16 games.
A great night spoiled: Ever do a really good job on something, like write a great paper only to have ink poured all over it? Or paint your entire house, only to have vandals spray graffiti on it? That’s what Jose Reyes of the Mets must have felt like after last night’s game against Cincinnati. Reyes went 4 for 5 and hit for the cycle against the Reds, with a homer, double, triple and single. Then Billy Wagner spilled all over it in the top of the ninth by blowing his fourth save of the season. Wagner got the first two outs, but then loaded the bases and gave up a game-winning, two-run single to Brandon Phillips. The Mets could have extended their lead in the NL East to double digits, since no other team below them won, but the 6-5 loss means their lead remains at 9 ½ games.
Good night for good, Kerry?: While other pitchers are getting healthy, including teammate and DL buddy Mark Prior, the Cubs’ Kerry Wood is having no such luck. Wood told reporters that he might not be able to pitch again this year. “With each passing day, I get more and more doubts,” he said. You almost have to feel sorry for the guy. The hard throwing Texan, once thought to be the next Nolan Ryan, has made only four starts this season, and missed most of last season. He was to possibly return Sunday, but said, “it seems to shut down on me,” after getting to 65-70 pitches in a simulated game. There is no timetable as to whether he will throw again soon. Perhaps Wood should seriously consider this idea.
An old friend, indeed: There probably has been no bigger free agent bust in recent baseball history than Adrian Beltre of the Mariners. Ever since leaving the Dodgers after a monster 2004 in which he hit 48 homeruns, only Beltre has stunk more than the dead fish they toss around at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. This hasn’t stopped him from torturing the Dodgers the last few nights, however. Maybe returning to Chavez Ravine (and being loudly booed) has woken up the 64 million dollar man. Beltre has gone 5 for 8, with a homerun, four RBI and four runs scored against his former team. His two-run double in the eighth inning last night broke a tie game in an 8-5 Seattle triumph. Now, if Beltre can only do something against the other 27 teams in the league, he might be able to live up to that contract.
