As previously advised, if you are not a fan please skip accordingly. If you are a fan, this is even more of an incentive to tab back to your Fantasy free agent page and continue plotting a regression for Alberto Callaspo's career VORP against left handed starting pitching in August in Kauffman Stadium in day games during the equinox while Democrats control two of the three branches of government and oil futures are between $70-$80 a barrel. You should really pick him up.
Vladimir Guerrero Desperately Restraining Himself During Intentional Walk
Los Angeles of Anaheim, CA--Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero has summoned all manner of self-restraint and will power not to swing during this intentional walk.
With a man on second and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Guerrero has already successfully taken two balls from Minnesota Twins reliever Jose Mijares, but the excruciating torment of not swinging seems to be taking its toll on the Angels star.
"See ball, do NOT hit ball," Guerrero muttered in Spanish while tapping himself on his helmet with his bat. "See ball, do NOT hit ball. Ehhhhhhhhhhh."
The walk is the latest test of Angel manager Mike Scioscia's efforts to impose some type of plate discipline on the former AL MVP. So far, the results have been mixed.
"We thought we were making headway in June, when he only swung once during two consecutive pitch-outs against the A's," said Scioscia. "Then he doubled off that pick-off attempt in Texas, and we lost months of progress."
Checking his swing on the third ball, Guerrero turned to the Angels dugout and pleaded, "Coach, pleeeaaase. I can hit it, I swear I can."
Scoscia hollered back, "You don't want to end up like Maicer, do you?", referring to the injured Maicer Izturis, whom Scioscia waterboarded after the Angels shortstop swung at a 3-0 pitch earlier in the game.
