Thoughtservations…

I want to get to this first because it cannot be overstated how sadly messed up it is. Last Thursday, at Dodger Stadium, opening day for both the Dodgers and visiting Giants, a Giants fan was beaten to a pulp by a couple thuggish Dodger fans after the game. It is said that he has brain damage and is obviously facing an arduous recovery. It is also said that over 100 people may have witnessed the beating, yet the thugs are still at large. In fact, there is now a $150,000 reward for information leading to their whereabouts.

As baseball rivalries go, this is a good one, dating back to both teams' days in New York, but going to a baseball game should not be a life-threatening event. I don't care how much you love your team, and "hate" your teams' rivals, you don't kick the shit out of someone to prove your team loyalty. I have been heard to say things like "I hate the Yankees" or "I hate the Dodgers" because I always have "hated" those teams. But not hate hate. I don't wish ill will on their fans or players. Hell, I went to a game once at Dodger Stadium, versus the Rockies, and I was wearing my Rockies jersey proud, and I don't recall even a sour glance. But it's unnerving to think one could go to a baseball game wearing the out-of-town colors and get the crap beat out of him.

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Appendix(citis) A: The baseball season is just a week old, but already two guys this year have had their appendixes surgically removed. Matt Holiday and Adam Dunn (who apparently has the healing powers of a wolverine). What is up with that? Add Andres Torres from late last season, and that's three guys in two months of baseball with emergency appendectomies.

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There are two still-winless teams, and their identities are pretty surprising. Boston and Tampa Bay. Say what? Pretty much everyone predicted the Red Sox to win the World Series. And pretty much not quite everybody, but at least a handful of pundits had Tampa Bay finishing right behind them in the AL East. Wanna know who's leading the AL West? Baltimore. Say what?

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For those of you who don't particularly care for baseball because there's not enough contact, Minnesota second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka had his fibula busted by Nick Swisher trying to break up a a double play today.