Summer Time Blues: Oh well. KC lost again, after coming back from a defecit (thus Lima still is perfect), but blowing it ... for the second time Lloyd had a role (this time he got the loss, last time he just gave up the runs that decided the game). They now are tied with the White Sox, who beat up on slumping Seattle, and behind in the win column. They survived one drop off, helped by the Twins slumping ... the White Sox can't keep this up, can they? Oh they might ... and August brings six games against the Yanks and other trouble for KC. Buckle up guys!

The Red Sox lost for the second time in two days vs subpar teams (the first time Pedro pitched ... it's almost a bad thing these days when he pitches for them), and the As won, so Oakland is inching back to that Wild Card lead. The As beat the Yanks, who are having hitting woes. Hitting woes, such as getting a lead runner to second with no one out in the ninth, but not scoring, makes Benitez not getting that third out in the eighth ... opening up a chance for the unearned run that decided the game (homer with two outs off Osuna, by the person who got that unearned run, won it in the tenth) ... matter. Meanwhile, the Mets are currently losing it via the bullpen. Another wasted effort by Trachsel (6.2, one run vs the Cards) because of a six run eighth. Now it's time for previously dependable Wheeler to mess up. So it goes. The Mets actually showed life for a little while ... now they are losing eight games out of ten, and basically simply suck. A team like the Brewers suck, but actually show some life now and again ... currently, the Mets need to show a bit more life ... is four out of ten too much to ask for?

I was not up to see it, but the Jets lost to Tampa in the opening game of pre-season football ... in Japan. A few years ago the Mets played the Cubs there, but I think it is a lot easier when the game is pre-season action like this. The As/Mariners was scheduled to play last March, before the hostilities cancelled their plans, but I think baseball is more popular in Japan than football. Given all those European football games I see (Rhine Fire seems to predominate), wouldn't Western Europe be a more logical site? Anyway, football in August is a bit hard to take ... heat and football does not go great together.