Watching Baseball

Some random thoughts as I'm watching games on this Wednesday night.

I know that Howie Kendrick has been hurt, but I never would have thought that he wouldn't have a homer by this point of the season.

Why can't a game be stopped in the middle of the inning for rain? It's raining as hard as it can possibly rain, or so it seems in New York and they aren't stopping the Mets and Giants game. They stopped the game after the third out and the game is in a rain delay now.

In case anyone was wondering, the Kansas City Royals are in fourth place in the AL Central. They are two games ahead of Cleveland in the Central. And the Indians are sellers. Maybe just maybe, I'll win that double cheeseburger.

Josh Vittek hasn't played at Burlington in about a week. He's not in the lineup again tonight. I don't know if that is because of an injury to Vittek or because the Royals recently sent David Wood down to Burlington. Wood had started the year with Wilmington, but was struggling in Delaware and has been sent back to Rookie ball. Vittek not playing has coincided with Wood's arrival, but I'm not sure if there is more to it or not.

Another Mountie Michael Gioioso has had some injury problems but is trying to get back in shape in the Gulf Coast League with the Orioles. He's 0-for-10 thus far.

Keep an eye of Chris Salberg in the Orioles chain. Salberg was a 22nd round draft pick out of Florida Atlantic in 2006. He did not pitch in the minors in '06, and he made just one start in 2007 and was hit hard in 2/3 of an inning at Aberdeen. But the lefthander is 2-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 6 starts (4 at Aberdeen, 2 at Delmarva) this year. He's in line to get his third win with the Ironbirds tonight, as he went five innings and left with an 8-2 lead.

The White Sox seem like a team that could totally tank to me. I just don't totally believe in everything they have going on. I know that Paul Konerko could get hot for them. They certainly haven't gotten the best from him. But I'm just not sure I expect guys like Carlos Quentin, Nick Swisher, AJ Pierzynski and Alexei Ramirez to continue to perform at this level. I expect either Minnesota or even Detroit to win that division.

Brandon Snyder's hot streak continues again for Frederick. Hitting .366 in his last 10 games, Snyder has homered again tonight. Jake Arrieta threw seven strong one-hit innings and the Keys hold a 3-2 lead late.

Scary thought that Esteban Yan is starting for the Norfolk Tides tonight. Jeff Fiorentino has two hits tonight - and you've got to think he's in a position to battle for an outfield job with the Orioles next year with Jay Payton unlikely to return.

A couple of real good pitching performances have my eye tonight. Carlos Zambrano has looked unhittable the last few innings versus the Reds, retiring 12 in a row. Meanwhile, in Texas Jared Weaver is shutting down a good Ranger lineup. Although it did take a lineout double play to end the first inning and preserve Weaver's shutout early.