The only question I have about the Mariners decision to fire their manager to day is why it took so long. I am embarrassed to admit that I thought that they would be the class of the AL West. Instead, they are the cellar dwellers in the entire league. It’s not like they are coming up just short, either. They have all sorts of talent, and highly paid talent at that, but they just can’t get anything going. This year is a total write-off, but hopefully this change coupled with the fired general manager last week will get the message across that this team can’t be this bad anymore. I have always liked the mariners, and I will continue to as long as they don’t make the decision to get rid of Erik Bedard this season. That would be painfully shortsighted.
Portugal got a tough break at Euro 2008 today. They had played very well throughout the tournament, but Germany lost to Turkey in round-robin play so Portugal had to play the tournament favorites in the first round of the playoffs. Portugal played a solid game in virtual monsoon conditions today, but Germany was just that much better, and they won 3-2. One tough draw and they are out. In the meantime, Croatia and Turkey play to be the next opponents of Germany, and Portugal could easily have beaten either of those teams. By the time this tournament is over the draw is going to be a major story. It has already punished France and Portugal.
Big Brown has emerged from seclusion. We had heard a lot from his trainer and jockey since the crushing disappointment of the Belmont, but the horse had been mostly out of sight. He’s been training at Aqueduct, though, and he’s reportedly been doing well. He was originally supposed to be pointed to the Travers at Saratoga at the end of August, but instead he will next head to the other big summer Derby – the Haskell at Monmouth on August 3. That choice opens up the possibility, and indeed most likely the probability, of another race between that one and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at the end of October. Going into that race off a three month break doesn’t seem like a good or likely idea.
