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I (heart) Billy Koch and other facets of the diamond

Baseball

by Geep on Monday, May 21st, 2007 at 11:57am

• Raul Ibanez hurt himself sleeping on the plane sometime last week. His lower back is causing him such a problem that he cannot stand still. “It’s just been bothering me. It happened on the plane from Detroit and the next day I really felt it. I just slept the wrong way.”

• Bernie Williams gave the commencement address at Iona College and he refers to his baseball career in the present tense. It is a nice read.

• I cannot begin to understand why a major leaguer would hide an injury during the season. They can’t demote you if you are injured. Someone needs to explain this to Twins pitcher Dennys Reyes, who’s shoulder is the suck.

• Some people choose to express themselves through body art. Marlins pitcher Justin Miller has so much ink that MLB makes him pitch in long sleeves. But that’s not the best part.

Tattooed on the newest Marlin’s buttocks is the phrase: “I (heart) Billy Koch.” Koch, a former reliever who spent time with the Marlins, paid Miller $1,000 plus picked up the $80 tab from Mom’s Tattoos in Dunedin before the 2004 season for the advertisement. Koch felt so bad for Miller’s wife, Jessica, for “having to see it every day,” that he gave Jessica an additional $500.

• Mercifully for us, the Twins ended the Sidney Ponson experiment. There were two immediate impacts. 1. There was a lot more food available in the clubhouse. 2. Scott Baker is a part of the rotation. When will Terry Ryan learn?

• Looks like Sam Perlozzo’s stint as Orioles manager may be coming to an end. But is he the problem? I don’t think so. This franchise is riddled with issues and has been for years. The issue? You can’t fire the owner.

• It appears that the clubhouse cancer is hard at work.

While Ozzie Guillen and A.J. Pierzynski eventually hugged it out, and Pierzynski added to his growing legend with a grand slam on Sunday, it appears some of Pierzynski’s teammates are tired of his act. Pitcher Mark Buehrle said Pierzynski’s remarks to North showed little respect to backup catcher Toby Hall.

• The Indians’ 16-4 home start tied the mark set by the 1995 club, which went 54-18 at home on the way to Cleveland’s first World Series appearance in 41 years. Don’t forget that three of those “home” games were in Milwaukee.