Thought #1

You know those Verizon commercials where they throw a map up on the screen that's filled with red areas to show how few dead zones they have in their coverage? If you look close there is one little area in the corner of West Virginia that is completely uncovered, a dead zone. Good luck getting a call in or out of that area. Guess that huge Verizon crew doesn't make the rounds to former coal towns turned Crystal Meth capitals, but that's another story.

If you put a similar map up showing the dead zones of Major League Baseball, there would be a huge blank area over the city of Baltimore. No real signs of life coming out of that place right now, the O's dropping 11 of their first 12 games this season, and the customer support seems to be at an all time low. Pretty sure if you phoned up for a little service call, you'd get one of those cable company messages saying they will be around to help sometime between 5 and 10 years from today.

Worse than this though is that there is no sign of anyone caring, much less making moves to change for the better.

Earlier this week it was reported by Fox Sports.com that the team declined an offer of help from Cal Ripken Jr. According to three sources, Peter Angelos did not want Cal to receive the credit once the team started winning.

Really Pete? That's your biggest fear right now? That someone might come in, actually help your team win games, and get a little credit? This is what you are worried about? This is like the school dork turning down a movie invite from his buddies because he's worried it will cramp his potential to get asked on a date by the homecoming queen. Listen, people who are bleeding don't turn down bandages and struggling teams shouldn't turn down help from hall of famers.

Baltimore fan you can't be happy. Not only does your owner appear to be fine sitting in that dead zone, it looks like his willing to go tear down a few cell phone towers to ensure that it stays that way.

Thought #2

When I saw that last night's Mets - Cardinals lasted 20 innings and over 6 hours last night my first thought was, "I bet umpire Joe West is pissed!" Then again, 6 hours is a dang long time to take part in anything and mad props to anyone who stuck it out in the stands that whole time, especially since the beer line shuts down after the 7th.

Now games like this seem to happen a few times a year and often you get to see something very unique in them; position players taking the mound. Makes sense, saves a few arms, and a lot of these guys have logged time on the mound before either in the minors or college.

So this got me to thinking. What if all regular season extra innings had to be pitched by position players? Now granted you would want to make an exception if a guy was going for a no-hitter or perfect game, but just your in typical everyday game, come the 10th and you have to put a position player on the mound.

Sure you're baseball purest are going to hate this idea, but they hate every change and for some reason think that the original rules for the game were handed to Moses on a slab from God. And while this does reak a little of an industrial softball league, but don't tell me it wouldn't be fun. Don't tell me you wouldn't tune in to watch an A-Rod or Josh Hamilton take the hill.

Thought #3

The Heat and Celtics got a little testy last night when Paul Pierce went down late in the game holding his shoulder. As Pierce lay near the Miami bench, players do what they always do, and crowded around him. (Not really sure why players always get up on a guy who goes down with an injury. I'm pretty sure regardless of what I've twisted, sprained, or torn, a sweaty KG standing over me is the last home remedy I'm seeking.)

Quentin Richardson also felt the need to join the crowd, reportedly to take the ball out, which is interesting considering how often the league lets you inbounds the ball while standing over an injuries player. Of course this didn't sit well with Garnett and one thing lead to another and ended with a bow being thrown by Kevin and landing firmly on Q-Rich's grill.

Of course Pierce was fine, it was just time for his annual over exaggeration of a injury in a playoff game. Granted there was no wheel chair this time, but you have to work with what you got.

The bigger lose to the Celtics may be KG if the league decides to suspend him. While it is hard to tell if he was aiming for Quentin's head, he defiantly was swinging for contact. In a series where the Heat appear to be outmatched on paper, the lose of Garnett could really give them an edge and a chance to steal an easy game 2.

Honestly, I really hope KG isn't taken out for game too. Now full disclosure, I love the Celtics, but I also love a heated playoff series. Remember those Bulls-Knicks matchups in the 90s? I have a very vivid image in my head of Horace Grant and Charles Oakley tossing each other around under the boards. Wasn't that great?

Now I'm not saying they should let it get out of control and I'm not saying we need all out brawls, but an elbow here, a dropped shoulder there, and you've got yourself a fun game to watch. Maybe it's just me, but ball seems a little better when the teams are pissed at each other.