Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

Does anyone not think that Barry Bonds pulling out of the World baseball Classic is due to their more stringent drug testing policies? Anyone?.... OK - let me throw this conspiracy theory out there - the Red Sox may have finally moved to resolve their organizational differences that were keeping Theo Epstein from re-signing with the team because they knew that new Reds owner Bob Castellini was going to fire Dan O'Brien and create an opening that might have been attractive to Epstein. Look at the timing involved. The new owner of the Reds must have had this move to fire O'Brien planned but was just waiting to officially take over to pull the trigger. He may have put out unofficial feelers to Epstein about his interest in the job and that interest was the leverage Epstein needed to get the changes made that he wanted. Just sayin' its a possible scenario - that's all... Today's Ron Mexico name of the day is Dick Pole... Scott Podsednik may have to answer "yes" to that old first base jibe of "got any naked pictures of your wife?" as he is set to marry Playmate Lisa Dergan. (The first base joke is supposed to have the runner say "no" and the firstbaseman respond "want some?")... The best take on the Crisp for Marte deal that I've read anywhere...