THE BELTWAY BOYS: THE FRENCH JUST NEVER QUITE GET IT RIGHT

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THE FRENCH JUST NEVER QUITE GET IT RIGHT

[March 29th] -- I was surfing the web this morning and came across a baseball website from France. The French just never quite seem to understand anything American. They watch our movies and think that Hollywood accurately portrays the American way of life. They think that the fact that we saved their country from occupation in two world wars was "A nice little thing to do, but we had it under control, thank you." And goodness, they can't even get baseball right.

The rules for French baseball is a little different from our own. The batter has the ball velcroed to his backside as in the picture to the right, and then must run the bases in an attempt to score at home plate. The defensive players try to rip the ball off of the opponents back -- if they do, the player is out. The player trying to score is allowed to use his bat to ward off the defensive players.

And we wonder why France disagrees with everything America does. Its all a big misunderstanding.

# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 9:35 PM

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Rasner Rocks For Yanks

What was it that Jim Bowden said when he lost Darrell Rasner to the Yankees through waivers last winter? Wasn't it something like, "C'mon, it wasn't like he was going to make an impact at the major league level?" Well Jimbo, it seems like some of your "minor" transactions are coming back to haunt you.

Rasner, a 6'3" righty from Carson City, Nevada, was waived February 11th by the Nationals, just a couple of weeks before the start of spring training. He was picked up and assigned to 'AAA' Columbus. He had some injuries this year, but it didn't effect his pitching. In 58 innings for the Clippers, Rasner went 4-0, 2.76. But wait. There's more.

Pitching on Sunday against the Twins, Rasner pitched 6 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 6 hits. In two starts, he's now 1-0, 1.17.

What do you always like to say, Jim, something about "You can never have enough pitching?" Let's see, you waived Rasner, and he's starting for the Yankees. You waived Claudio Vargas, and he's starting for the Diamondbacks. You waived Byung Young Kim, and he's starting for the Rockies. You traded Tomo Ohka for a guy no longer in the major leagues, and he's starting for the Brewers.

Jim, if I were you, I'd stay away from the waiver wire. Seems like you haven't figured it that it's supposed to help the team, not hurt it.

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Big Changes, Little Names

Big happenings? Nah. Just happenings. Zach Day was designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies and Capitol Punishment is reporting that the Nats have claimed him off the waiver wire. So we ended up getting Preston Wilson for nothing. That's nice. Billy Traber, he of the tight leash, was sent down to New Orleans and replaced by Mike O'Connor.

That's all well and good, but don't look to any of these moves making a difference in the play of the team. But hey, it's something to talk about. Right?