The Roundup comes late today because it's my last day of work and I had to power mark my way to the bottom of a pile of first year undergrad history exams this morning.
Did you know that many Germans had "anti-semantic" views in the 1930s?
Where you aware that "Hitler gave aids to General Franco" during the Spanish Civil War?
In addition to being history's greatest monster, he apparently also found the time to be patient zero of the HIV/AIDS scourge that would explode three decades after he shot himself in the Fuhrerbunker.
And it is with a not-so-heavy heart that I retire from my post as graduate teaching assistant at an undisclosed Ontario university. Thanks for the memories, kids.
(Somewhat-related note: if you're in your early to mid 20s and find yourself backpacking through Germany, it's a pretty good kick if you ask your English mate Andy to ask a random Berliner--in fluent German--if he knows the way to the Fuhrerbunker...)
On to more sundry baseball matters...
Dave Purcey is, of course, starting tonight and that makes me feel warm and fuzzy where I pee. We've been championing the young-ish Southpaw pretty much since we started operations here in February, though I admit to feeling more than a bit of trepidation considering the fearsome Tigers lineup he'll be facing in his debut. Regardless of the outcome, we still love you Big D. And if all does go well, you'll find yourself deafened by the sound of congradulatory back-slapping on our part. Not that we contributed in any way, really, but for some reason it feels like credit should be due.
(Seriously Tao of Stieb, you backed a three-legged pony when you threw your support behind Buck Coats.)
File this under outrageous: an outstanding effort tonight from Purcey and continued Gustavo Chacinery from Jesse "the Body" Litsch over the next few weeks and don't be shocked if the two get swapped on the organizational depth chart (I almost wrote "depth charge"; time to step away from the military history, weirdo...). That means Purcey as 5th starter and the other guy riding the bus in upstate New York. Litsch, incidentally, will not appear in this Tigers series which is pretty lucky for him since he'd likely end up wearing his ass for a hat by the end of the afternoon if he did face them.
How old is Kenny Rogers? So fucking old that he's actually logged innings at the Ex! He's also dominant in the Rogers Centre/Skydome (11-4, 3.32 ERA in 86.2 innings). Since we've lost every game started by a lefty this year (the games that were supposed to be gimmes) and The Roaster has the aforementioned track record in TO, I'm going to make this one my Jimmy the Greek can't miss victory of the night.
Matchups for the series are:
Roaster- Purcey
Bonderman-McGowan
Robertson-Burnett
Armando Gallaraga (who?)-Marcum
A split would be regarded by many (including me) as a small triumph of sorts. Game previews here, as always.
ELSEWHERE:
* The Rays are now starting to take some lumps, too. Carlos Pena is day-to-day with some hammy issues, joining drunken UFC Champ Al Reyes, Matt Garza and Scott Kazmir in the infirmary.
* Bizzaro! The Rays lock Evan Longoria up for 6-9 years even though he's only been up for a week or two. Eric Hinske's locker can't be too far away, but apparently The Dude's spotty track record didn't disuade Rays brass from making such a risky move.
-- Johnny Was
