Sports Frog

• Detroit Tigers left-hander Dontrelle Willis was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after an MRI confirmed that he has a hyperextended right knee.

The fact that he couldn't hit the side of a barn with a baseball (5 innings, 9 walks) had absolutely nothing to do with this trip to the DL.

• Scott Spezio is given his walking papers again. Told to pack his shit and take his ridiculous facial hair with him, this just may be the last we hear of Spezio, regarding baseball that is.

"We had an agreement with Scott," GM Frank Wren said. "There were three things we asked him to do: No. 1 is to continue his aftercare, which included testing, No. 2, that he attend AA [meetings] and No. 3 he would show up at the park every day ready to play. And yesterday he was not ready to play." I am guessing hangover, but that's just my guess.

• The Washington Nationals are learning things the hard way, at tax payer expense. When you put shit on the field, people will not come out to the ballpark.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks keep knocking around NL West foes, with the kid leading the way.

Justin Upton went 3-for-3 with four RBIs, including a three-run home run, to power the Diamondbacks to their eighth consecutive victory Saturday, a 10-3 romp over the Colorado Rockies .

The 20-year-old outfielder, the first overall pick in the 2005 draft, boosted his average to .415, including five home runs with 10 RBIs.

• The biggest day in the football off-season will be here Tuesday. With baited breath I impatiently await.......... drumroll please................

Suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones will again ask NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to reinstate him, with his agent planning to send in his latest request on Tuesday.

Strippers throughout the country are making financial plans based upon this outcome.

• From Buster Onley:

The Florida Marlins are 7-3 despite a starters' ERA of 6.98. That's the highest ERA for any team that won at least seven of its first 10 games in any season.

David Ortiz has not driven in a run in his last 25 at-bats.

Carl Crawford became only the eighth player since 1900 to accumulate 1,000 hits and 250 stolen bases at his age (26 years, eight months).

• If they came to Tropicana Field on Saturday night to see the major-league debut of third baseman Evan Longoria, they weren't disappointed. The kid from Long Beach State had his first big-league hit, drove in a run and fielded his position well

• Jeff Francoeur felt he owed John Smoltz for failing to back Atlanta's ace with clutch hitting in 2007. He just didn't think he'd do it all in one game.

Francoeur had two home runs and a career-high seven RBIs as the Atlanta Braves handed the Washington Nationals their ninth straight loss, 10-2 on Saturday.

Well Jeff you owe me too. I paid $14 for you last season in the MABL and I won't say I am bitter but two homers and seven ribbies was a good week for you last year.

• The Minnesota Twins recalled left-hander Francisco Liriano on Friday, and he's expected to make his first start after missing all of last season because of elbow surgery Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.