I didn't do a 'Kudos & Wet Willies' review last week with the Fourth of July holiday and all. I'm back this week, though, so let's take a brief look at the week that was.
Kudos to ...
- Chase Utley -- The Philadelphia second baseman now has five straight seasons of at least 20 home runs. That's an awesome accomplishment for a second baseman. He's the player we all wish Robinson Cano could be.
- Tim Wakefield -- At 42, the Red Sox knuckleballer is headed to his first All-Star Game. I know we hate the Red Sox, but it's hard to hate Wakefield. He's a class act, and it's a nice honor for him.
- Jonathan Sanchez -- The San Francisco Giants' lefty fired the first of 2009 Friday against the San Diego Padres. Only Juan Uribe's stone glove prevented him from being perfect.
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Eric Hinske -- A home run in his Yankee debut. Two home runs in his second game. Looks like Hinske might not be a bad pickup by Brian Cashman. Now, if Cash could just find a few more pitchers ...
Wet Willies to ...
- Manny Ramirez -- 'C'mon, ManRam, getting yourself booted out of your first game back from the 50-game suspension? Didn't you have a long enough vacation?
- The Washington Nationals -- The Nats are on pace to lose more games than any major league franchise since the 1962 New York Mets, who won just 40 of their 162 games. Former big-league pitcher and current Nats' broadcaster Rob Dibble recently called out the team.
"This isn't a Major League baseball team I'm watching out here....It's pathetic. I've never seen a team that is ok with losing....Some guys are mailing it in, and it's hard to watch."
Dibble said a lot more, and none of it paints a pretty picture.
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Joba Chamberlain -- Forget the bullpen. The pitiful way Joba is pitching (do we call it pitching?) some writers have been asking manager Joe Girardi is Scranton would be a better place for him right now. Never thought that question would be asked about Joba. Maybe Joba thinks he's throwing batting practice.
- Juan Uribe -- Dude, in a perfect game you never want to be THAT GUY. As in, THAT GUY who screwed it up by butchering an eighth-inning ground ball and making an error. Friday night, that was Uribe, doing his best Cody Ransom at third base to kill Jonathan Sanchez' perfect game.
[NOTE: During the All-Star break I will have a full 'Kudos & Wet Willies' breakdown of the Yankees.]