Call To The Pen: Interleague Edition.

Since we are so new, I feel compelled to endlessly introduce each of our dozens of new features that are sure to go wrong, and most likely not last more than a couple of weeks. With that flattering opener out of the way, let me introduce you to Call To The Pen. Our aim is to use this feature as a point of analysis for the game's most pressing topics, according to us. Expect long winded rants, that you may or may not agree with, usually combined with pictures of women and/or baseball players. Feedback is appreciated, so let your voice be heard in the comments!

Our inaugural Call To The Pen features the debate on the merits of Interleague play. Since, you know, that just happens to be starting this weekend. This topic has totally not been played out. I'm pretty sure we're the first ones to ever discuss it in fact. Which, seems odd given that it can be such a polarizing discussion. Especially if your favorite team has to play one of the crappier clubs this year. Which leads us to our first con to Interleague play, because it's always good to start on a negative note, there tends to be a lot of crappy teams playing other crappy teams.

This weekend alone, some unfortunate fans will have to witness the unholy match-ups of Giants vs. Mariners, Pirates vs. White Sox, or God forbid, Nationals vs. Orioles (what hath God wrought?). This certainly seems to be the greatest afront to the name of baseball, but it really is simply more a misfortune of bad luck, than a design flaw. From year to year there is no way to know which teams will be good and which will be bad, although one can make a pretty good estimation. The aforementioned match-ups this weekend appear horrendous now, but next year they could all feature first place clubs. This makes the "shitty match-up" argument moot. And besides, Interleague play offers way more benefit to the fan, than takes away.

The most obvious of benefits, is the ability Interleague provides to fans to see teams live, that they normally would never see. Unless of course you meet up in the World Series. How often do Blue Jay fans see the Atlanta Braves and vice versa? Interleague play also provides for some real, good, rivalries. White Sox vs. Cubs, Dodgers vs. Angels, Yankess vs. Mets, awesome! Without Interleague play you just wouldn't see this, during the regular season, at least. Add to this the novelty of seeing an AL pitcher attempt to hit (the NL ones are bad enough as it is) and you've got yourself some serious entertainment. Unless you're a Pirates fan, then you never really have entertainment.

Frankly we don't get the fuss over Interleague play. Yes, it does sometimes provide some epically bad matchups, but besides that, does it really take away from the game? And when you consider all the benefits that are associated with the match-up of old league vs. new, what's not to like? So this Memorial Day weekend, quit your bellyaching, crack open a few cold ones and just enjoy some good 'ol hardball. Play ball!

Go for Home!

Bloops and Blasts, The Night Before: 5/22

Bloops and Blasts is the newest feature at Glove Mandatory. We'll use this space to update the most interesting baseball action that has taken place the night before, or the afternoon of. We don't promise the most interesting of analysis, it is just a bunch of boxscores after-all. Oh...and maybe some hot chicks.

So, we are a mere two days into existence, and yes, we've already changed the name of the only feature we have to date. Afternoon Runs, Hits & Errors felt a little long, so we've shortened it down to Bloops and Blasts. No one should have a problem with this, since no one probably reads this at this point. Now onto the action from last night.

Yankees 7, Orioles 4: The Yankees beat the Orioles, big surprise. Well, there was some shock involved in this game, namely when a line drive up the middle caught pitcher Joba Chamberlain in the knee. He would have to leave the game. Yankees fans began throwing themselves off the upper deck upon the realization that Phil Hughes may be forced to start for them again.

Cardinals 3, Cubs 1: The Redbirds finished their dominance of the Cubbies last night, completing a three game sweep. Pujols homered for the 14th time this season, taking out the 'I' in Big Mac in left field. This just in, Pujols is awesome, and totally not juicing. I can't figure out who is more mediocre, the NL Central or the AL Central?

Angels 3, Mariners 0: Ok, I think it's time that we forget that the Mariners may have a shot to surprise the AL West. They are now four games under .500. The mighty Joe Saunders pitches a gem of a game, going seven innings, striking out 3, and giving up only 4 hits.

Red Sawks 5, Blue Jays 1: Manny who? Jason Bay is on an absolute tear. He set a team record with his 11th consecutive homer with men on base. The Sawks also got a good game out of their struggling "ace" Jon Lester. The win completes a sweep by Boston. The Blue Jays look like they were a mirage, as they've now lost, I believe, 5 of their last 6 games against the Yanks and Sawks.

Go for Home!

Everyone not named Cliff Lee, watch your back.

For a team with a 5.67 ERA, the Cleveland Indians just got a nice little glimpse into the future. Thursday, Double-A prospect, Jeanmar Gomez threw the first perfect game in Aeros' club history, striking out eight in the process. Since being promoted to Double-A, Gomez has compiled a record of 4-0, with an ERA of 0.31. Said Gomez of his performance,

"It was a great experience," Gomez said through interpreter and pitching coach Ruben Niebla. "The ball hit by the last batter, I didn't see until I turned around and he had it in his glove. I've never experience this before. It's beautiful."

Despite his quick start in Double-A, Gomez is a mere mortal-esque 23-19, since signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tribe organization in 2005. While the last place Indians and their fans probably wish he was in the rotation already, by all indications it seems he's not quite prepared, yet. Until then, Clevelanders will just have to make due with the mighty trio of Fausto Carmona, Anthony Reyes and (shudders) Carl Pavano.

Indians prospect Gomez pitches Double-A perfect game. [SI.com]

Gomez tosses Aeros' first perfect game [Cleveland Indians website]

Go for Home!

Afternoon Runs, Hits & Errors: 5/21

Afternoon Runs, Hits & Errors will be a (sometimes) daily feature at Glove Mandatory. Whenever there is some serious, or mildly interesting hardball taking place under the sun we'll attempt to recap it here.

Twins 20, White Sox 1:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
MIN (19-23)	1	7	1	1	0	6	4	0	0	20	20	1
CHW (17-23)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	8	2

Figuratively and literally the biggest action in this afternoon's games took place at the Big Cellphone as the Minnesota Twins schilacked the White Sox, posting the second highest margin of victory in team history. Let's hope that Jake Peavy had irrevocably revoked his "no-trade" clause before witnessing what can happen in a hitter friendly ballpark.

Tigers 4, Rangers 3: The Tigers extend their win streak to six games to hold onto at least a 2.5 game lead in the AL Central, possibly 3.5 if Cleveland holds on against Kansas City.

Phillies 12, Reds 5: Two less than impressive starters faced off at Great American Ballpark, with the pitcher with the higher ERA coming out victorious. Joe Blanton improved his ERA to 7.11.

Go for Home!

Peavy to the White Sox, will it even matter?

It appears that the deal is all but done, Jake Peavy will be the newest White Sox ace. Of course Peavy must now agree to the deal and waive his "no-trade" clause. The potential deal was first reported by MLB.com, and from the sound of things the deal will only cost the White Sox some mediocre pitching prospects. It will not involve their star prospect Gordon Beckham. While Peavy is a nice piece to add to any rotation, will he really make all the difference between a mediocre playoff team and a World Series contender?

Peavy isn't exactly the player he use to be. This year his record is only 3-5, and his ERA is just under four. Now much of this mediocrity can be attributed to the Padres as a team. They do have the fewest runs scored this season after-all. But what about the White Sox organization? They surprisingly have scored the third fewest runs in all of baseball. Not exactly a big step up for Peavy. Add to that the fact that the majority of the lineup consists of aging sluggers, on a team that lives and dies by the homerun and things are starting to look like they will remain status quo, despite the addition of Peavy.

Peavy also just signed a contract extension that will pay him over $17 million/year for the next three seasons, taking away a large chunk of change that could be spent on some offense. Kenny Williams will undoubtedly be heaped with praise, especially on the South Side, for a GM willing to take chances. Yes, some of this praise is deserved, a lot of fans wish their team could pull the trigger on a big deal as well, but as I see it this deal will simply be a waste of money and prospects. Without improvements to their lineup, the White Sox will continue to be a mediocre team. Unless I'm mistaken, a SP only appears every five-days and doesn't do a whole lot for your offense, especially in the AL, right?

Padres, White Sox agree; deal up to Peavy [MLB.com]

Go for Home!

Big Papi is Back Back Back...Maybe.

What a glorious day for all of Red Sox Nation! Wednesday night the planets aligned, the clouds broke, the seas parted, and David Ortiz FINALLY hit his first homer since last season's ALCS. And of course all was immediately forgiven. Heck, they even gave the slumping (probably an understatement) slugger a curtain call. I ask why, Red Sox Nation says fawk you!

Of course today will be filled with hyperbole and mass-hysteria, most likely from Beantown, but probably also from other sources, both media and not. Many will claim that this is all Big Papi needed to shake loose the cobwebs and get right back to being the Big Papi that we all love. Unless your a Twins' fan, you probably still can't forgive the club for letting him walk. But, is Big Papi really back? Let me remind you he's still hitting .210, 75 points lower than his career average, and let's just say a body like Ortiz's doesn't exactly age well. He's already struggled with wrist problems, and earlier this season "personal issues".

I'm not saying his first homer isn't great, no one would wish to see a great player go out the way Papi had started the season. But, before we start giving the man a standing ovation, let's see if he can keep the power streak going.
Go for Home!

About Glove Mandatory

Glove Mandatory is a blog dedicated to America's past time third most popular sport. If there is a sport we pretend to know, it's baseball. If you like baseball analysis from so-called experts, then consider us "experts". Please ignore the quotation marks, they in no way imply that we are not true experts.

If you're looking for babes, beer and baseball talk by fans and for fans, then you have come to the right place. If you're looking for analysis of Johan Santana's changeup or the intricacies of Derek Jeter's greatness, you should probably move on. John Kruk does not work here. That's probably a bad example of a baseball analyst, but so be it. Welcome, now grab your glove and hit the field rookie!

Go for Home!