Love Letters: Nice to hear from you e-mail-savvy readers
Insider | Short Hops
Updated May 24
Thank goodness all you people know how to use e-mail, now that stamps are 41 cents instead of 39. Now if we only could figure out a mainstream electronic way to fill up with gasoline. ...
From: Demi L.
I read this site every day and I just cannot believe nobody has mentioned that Mets shortstop Jose Reyes made it to the 50 Most Beautiful of People en Español. Here's the link.
I would have thought that you guys would have mentioned it at least to make fun of the poor guy.
Too busy checking out the photos of Carmen Dominicci, Barbara Bermudo, Candela Ferro and Jackie Guerrido to make fun of ... sorry, who were you talking about again?
From: Frank P.
Is it just me, or is there something totally wrong with the way MLB is going after Jason Giambi for making honest remarks about steroids? I usually don't side with the players on this, but no wonder the players don't want to be honest with the media or fans, much less to talk to Senator Mitchell. They get hammered if they do. Seems like MLB would want players to be forthcoming. Of course, a little honesty might be embarrassing to MLB.
When Gary Sheffield this spring called baseball's investigation into steroids a "witchhunt" for Barry Bonds, baseball officials behind-the-scenes told him to shut up. Now Giambi talks and another gag order is issued. Gee, it's almost as if baseball is trying to hide something ... which supposedly was the point of the Mitchell investigation, to get things out in the open. Full disclosure and all that other stuff. Doesn't seem like it yet, does it?
From: Anthony B.
Can we all look at Sammy Sosa as the poster-boy for not testing for HGH really being an issue? I'm all for a good comeback story -- see Josh Hamilton -- but Sosa's journey doesn't add up. First, he forgets how to speak in front of Congress, he then goes on to hit .215 with no power in Baltimore, he had no takers unless you count the Nats and was out of baseball, and now we are all supposed to believe that the late 30-something year old suddenly found his stroke of ninety-roid-eight. I call BS and I can't believe the media is letting Sosa's sudden output be glazed over AGAIN!
Solid points all. But as far as poster boys or girls go, I'm still stuck on Bermudo from the People en Espanol site.
From: Greg G.
Overall, your Bull Pennings column is great and I try not to miss a week. But you might want to correct the May 18 entry -- at least according to the news I read, Bo Diddley has not died. He suffered a stroke about two weeks ago but actually is improving. Otherwise, keep up the great work.
I swore I heard that he had died on the radio that day, and I was bummed and put it in Bull Pennings. Then a couple of days ago I read that Diddley was released from intensive care after his stroke and is doing much better. What a comeback he made! As that rock and roll storyteller Mark Twain would have said, "Reports of Diddley's death were greatly exaggerated." Thank goodness.
From: Oak K.
Rafael Santana was the Mets' shortstop in '86, Hubie Brooks went to Montreal a couple of years before...bad info dude! I remember that starting lineup very well.
So does Bill Buckner, wherever he is.
From: Asher C.
As big of a fan as I am of Bill James, I am frustrated by his claim that expansion does not inflate hitting. It happened in '61, '69, '77, '93, and '98. Now, as you astutely point out, we are seeing numbers we haven't seen since - surprise - 1992. I agree with you that this year's decline is related to several factors -- and I agree with all that you pointed out -- but I think that we have to look at the impact of expanding twice in a decade, and the fact that pitching is really only now in the last two years starting to catch up to the hitting. And, personally, I hope San Diego president Sandy Alderson leaves his fences right where they are.
Thanks for the addition to my reasons for this year's dip in offensive numbers -- I definitely go along with the expansion argument you present. And I think the Padres are bat-crap crazy if they shorten the Petco Park fences. They lead the NL in overall pitching, starting pitching and relief pitching as we speak. Why would they want to possibly weaken their strength?
From: Mark M.
As to your crack about the NL's consistent losing in interleague play, I'd suggest you brush up your math skills. Yes, last year the AL wiped the NL, for a total of 56 games over .500. So the result for 1999-2005? The NL won more games than the AL by 8. Basically, the leagues were dead even, but the AL was BEHIND. So last year was not exactly an example of a trend. It was a wild exception to it.
Yeah, but since interleague play started in 1997, the AL led going into this year 1,250-1,202. Lesson here Mark: Don't dispute The Man.
From: Russ N.
Thank you for getting the Josh Hancock story right! You are absolutely correct that sports are not to blame and it is unfortunate, but a mistake made by Josh that he paid for. It is a credit to you to speak the truth in this day and age!
It's what we do here at CBS SportsLine
From: Mike D.
Hell guys, that's what people enjoy, a sporting event isn't a sporting event without beer, beer and more beer. Look at NASCAR, people in the stands throw beer cans at the drivers. I go to a local race track here in Missouri, the local sheriff speaks at the opening and says don't you all drink too much, I'm the only one on duty tonight and I can't catch all of you, ha, ha, ha. Crazy world, that's life these days
Note to self: Add "Stay away from race tracks in Missouri" to to-do list.
From: Chioke H.
Dear Scott,
Could you see Roger Maris making the Hall of Fame?
He hasn't made it yet, and there is no momentum by the Veterans' Committee to mount a campaign for him so I'd say, at this point, no.
From: Shane
Hey Scott,
How long before the Rocks fire Clint Hurdle?
Is yesterday soon enough?
