Hump Day Headlines

In this week's Hump Day Headlines, we discuss the Netherlands shocking upset of the Dominicans, LaDainian Tomlinson's choice to stick with San Diego, Roger Clemens' roiding, and what Cleveland State's win means for the NCAA bubble...

• Apparently they play baseball in the Netherlands. Who knew? Actually, the team is comprised of a lot of players from Dutch Territories and a couple players who's ancestry may have included someone who knew someone Dutch. Either way, their stunning upsets of the Dominican Republic have sent La Republica home and Rik Smits' countrymen to the second round in Miami. The Dominican team had a team loaded with major league superstars, such as Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, David Ortiz and Miguel Tejada. The Netherlands had, who, exactly? Some guy named Kingsale, Sidney Ponson, and a man better known for beating running sausages than anything else. Talk about your David vs. Goliath type match-up. La Republica's roster was collectively making more than $83 million, while the Dutchmen were making a combined $0.4 million. There were 23 major-leaguers on the Dominican team, and just two on the Netherlands. The fact that David was able to win twice though really is something. The Dominicans were a favorite to win the World Baseball Classic, and why not? They had a team full of stars! How is it that a team with six pitchers I've never heard of combined to shut down a lineup filled with not only major league players, but star players last night? Unreal. Maybe the Dutch will start playing more baseball, which I guess is one of Bud Selig's goals: globalize the game.
• Ladainian Tomlinson is returning to the Chargers after all. The star running back must really love playing in San Diego, because I'm not sure I could work for an arrogant jerk like GM A.J. Smith. Then again, with the weather and the Pacific Ocean in the backdrop I could probably be persuaded. So could Tomlinson too, apparently, as team president Dean Spanos was apparently able to smooth over the strained relationship between the running back and the organization. This ultimately allowed the restructuring of Tomlinson's contract to happen. He'll make a bit more than back up back Darren Sproles, who was franchised this off season. This deal had to happen for the Chargers. If Tomlinson wanted out the Chargers just wouldn't be as good. Granted, Tomlinson's numbers weren't all-world last year like they usually are. But he's crucial to a team that has flirted with greatness in the AFC for awhile now. Good job by the Chargers, and by Tomlinson for getting the deal done.
• Here's a story that's not surprising. Federal authorities found that the syringes, vials and gauze pads used on Roger Clemens that Brian McNamee supplied investigators all had performance enhancing drugs on them. Shocking! As we have mentioned before, there was no reason for McNamee to lie, because the man just doesn't want to live his life behind bars. Clemens on the other hand, could end up behind bars, since he has denied steroid use under oath. The Rocket still maintains that he was only injected with lidocaine and B-12. Apparently that's not the case, according to these tests, and the DNA found in the blood on the syringes (reported February 6th int he Washington Post). "I assumed, and I am not surprised, that the tests were positive for both DNA and for performance-enhancing drugs, because that's what Brian said all along, and there's not much doubt that Brian's been telling the truth," Richard Emery, the attorney for McNamee told the AP. "The confirmation of that fact, once again, just seems to me to be another significant step towards jail for Clemens." I agree.
• With Cleveland State's win over 17th-ranked Butler, two Horizon league teams will be heading to the NCAA tournament. That means bad news for the bubble dwellers, who can only hope this week that as few surprise teams as possible force their way into the field of 65. Other than their big win over Syracuse on that 60-foot 3-pointer in December, Cleveland State's tournament resume wasn't good enough to make the dance otherwise. Their other quality wins were against...well, nobody. So now teams like Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Northwestern, San Diego State and the like will need to make big moves in their conference tournaments, even more so now than before. And they'll have to sweat out every conference championship the rest of the week. The next few days are why we love college basketball. Teams are fighting for that chance to dance. And then next week begins the glory that is the tournament, with non-stop basketball action for four straight days. Ahh how I love it.
• Bonus Point: Did anyone see that Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin told a recruit that if he goes to the University of South Carolina he'll end up pumping gas like everyone else there? I've said in the past Lane Kiffin is a moron. I don't think I need to say it again, do I? This guy better win a lot of games for those rocky toppers down there. If he doesn't, what a total loser this guy is.

30 Teams in 30 Days

Boston Red Sox: When You're A Game Away From The Series, How Many Changes Do You Really Need To Make?

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals. Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked)

Keeping It Real

While the Yankees were busy acting like the nerdy kid that had a beach house on prom night, trying to impress all the cool kids, the Red Sox more appropriately played the role of Chris Ostreicher, knowing that they are the s**t, and not feeling a ton of peer pressure to do too much to show it. Sure, they whiffed big time on not getting Marky Mark and that could certainly hurt David Ortiz over the course of a full season. But, they will have a full season of Jason Bay and are aiming to have a healthier season from Mike Lowell. What would scare me if I was a Sox fan is that David Ortiz had (by far, but more on that in a minute) his worst season in Beantown last year and you know that Dustin Pedroia is unlikely to repeat his numbers from last year. And that's no knock on Dusty, but when you nearly double 4 offensive categories, that's tough to follow up. The rotation is four deep, as per usual. Interesting to see if Brad Penny has anything left in that right shoulder of his. Likely...not.

Will The Real Cookie Monster Please Stand Up?

Which is the real David Ortiz? The one that averaged over 40 bombs and over 125 RBIs in his first 5 seasons, or the .264/23/89 guy we saw last year? I can't say for certain. Clearly, losing Manny hurts Ortiz, but Bay isn't a nothing. Then again, Red Sox apologists will point to that fact that Big Papi was injured for most of last year, which is certainly fair. Either way, it's a huge year for Ortiz to prove he doesn't need Manny in the lineup to be a fierce slugger.

Odds and Ends, A Bargain Hunters Winter

It seemed like they got a bunch of quality players without spending more money than they had to. Takashi Saito, Rocco Baldelli, John Smoltz, and even Ramon Ramirez (who?). All guys that have had good seasons, are coming off good seasons, or are coming off injuries. Are, all three. Point is, the Red Sox really could come off like geniuses here. Only one or two of the guys need to pan out for it to actually work. Not sure how much Baldelli will be able to contribute, but if Saito, Ramirez, Penny, or Smoltz (any of them, really) play well, it should go down as a job well done. Thus, the beauty of the bargain.

Julio Lugo Stinks. When Will The Red Sox Realize This?

He does. I'm sorry, injury or not, he's just not a good baseball player. He had one very good full season, and another decent full season. That was three years ago. Since his Tampa days, Lugo's failed to reach .270, and in half a season last year he made 16 errors. Get this guy out of here. I don't care if Jed Lowrie isn't that good, or isn't fully ready. You're the Red Sox, for pete's sake.

Bold Predictions

J.D. Drew will be injured at some point. Sorry, that's not bold at all, is it?

Following his on-again, off-again career path, Josh Beckett will have another big year in 2009.

Ok, real one. Kevin Youkilis will have another big time season (his numbers have been climbing each of the last 3 years), and hopefully people will recognize him for the top notch offensive player he really is.

Up Next...Sunday, Marlins.