Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

The Bret Boone era in Minnesota isn't exactly off to a hot start. Boone has gone 2 for 16 in his first 4 games with both hits being singles... Long term - it is probably good for the Red Sox that Al Leiter came out and pitched as well as he did last night. Pitchers, like water, find their own level. Leiter may have pitched like Cy Young last night but soon he'll find his level of Shaky McWashup. It would be best for the Red Sox if Leiter (and Kevin Brown for that matter) pitched well until after the trading deadline... Jon Garland won his 14th game yesterday. Count me among those who were skeptical of Garland but who are now convinced that he's the real deal (my skepticism didn't keep me from picking Garland up months ago on my fantasy baseball teams though)... Today Nick Johnson is supposed to see a Dr. about his bruised heel. It wouldn't surprise me if Johnson will be out longer than expected (shades of Nomar last spring). That will prompt Jim Bowden to find an inexpensive replacement for Johnson and soon (the Nats have lost 5 of 6 and the Braves are breathing down their necks), It will be interesting to see between Theo Epstein and JP Riccardi - which GM will be able to dump their underperforming firstbaseman on pitiful Jim Bowden. Epstein will try to dump Kevin Millar (.744 OPS) while Riccardi will try and dump Eric Hinske (.702 OPS). Bowden needs to win now so a good prospect could probably be had for the taking... Jason Kendall still hasn't hit first home run as a member of the A's (328 AB)... Don't look now but the A's are just 2.5 games back for the AL Wild Card...