This is interesting: Cuban pitcher Contreras defects (Baseball America). Any chance he won’t end up a Yankee? I remember watching that game he pitched against the Orioles. Granted, it was only an exhibition, and the O’s weren’t playing all their best players, but the guy looked real good.

So the playoffs began yesterday. The one game I actually almost cared about (Minnesota/Oakland) was over before I got home. I sat through a few innings of the Angels/Yankees contest; tuned in right after Troy Glaus’ first homer. You just had to know Jason Giambi’s grounder to the right side would find a way through. Honestly, even the baseballs have sold their souls.

Padres in the AFL

Vince Faison, playing right field and batting second, had two singles in five at-bats; he struck out once and was caught stealing. Tagg Bozied, playing first base and hitting cleanup, went hitless in five trips to the plate. Jake Gautreau, playing second base and batting eighth, collected two singles in five at-bats.