Changeups and Screwballs: A Southpaw’s Perspective for 9/1/11

–       Why do people get their panties in such a bunch over sign stealing?  Last night Josh Beckett had some choice words for the Yankees Brett Gardner last night after he caught him supposedly relaying signs to Mark Teixeira.  Teixeira probably had some words of his own for Gardner too after striking out that at-bat.

–       The San Francisco Giants are hosting a Star Wars night later this month.  Instead of bobble-heads they are giving away replicas of Brian Wilson encased in carbonite-awesome!

–       Mike Trout is boom-titties! (That one’s for you Lucey.)  Not only did he become the 9^th youngest player to ever have a two-homer game, the kid was hitting balls that were not even close to the strike zone.  We had him ranked as our No. 2 prospect and he is proving to everyone that he is well deserving of such a dubious honor.

–       In 13 professional innings this summer, Sonny Gray has allowed only 1 run.  The kid is sick nasty.  If you get a chance, watch him pitch and notice how fast the guy moves down the mound.  Surreal speed there, which allows such a small guy to have such devastating stuff.  Can’t wait to see how quick he makes it up with the big club.

–       Watching Francisco Cervelli’s first at-bat last night was pure comedy.  Beckett broke him off back-to-back hammers on the inside part of the plate and made him look like one of those sucky kids in little league who have never seen a curveball before.  Cervelli even gave a look at Beckett after the second curveball that said everything.