Hit & Run

Cal Ripken, Jr., was tapped by Condi Rice to be the U.S. Public Diplomacy Envoy. The administration wants him to spread the lovely to motivate through his integrity and iron man work ethic. About the appointment, Ripken said: “This is not a political statement for me necessarily. This is about the kids, and planning, you know, using baseball for good reasons.” Someone should send Ripken to the Middle East to solve that thing.

Puerto Rican boxing legend Tito Trinidad is stepping back into the ring, for a bout against Roy Jones, Jr. Both are on the comeback trail, but with Tito having the advantage in years (he’s four years younger than Jones), I give the nudge to Tito. Well, that and because Tito’s Puerto Rican. Gotta support my Caribbean brother.

Cap’n Jeets saved the game, after Mariano Rivera blew the save, in the Yankees 7-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. With a well-placed grounder, Jeter knocked in the winning run, scoring Melky Cabrera. The Yankees were also celebrating A-Rod’s 500th HR (A-Rod also hit his major league-leading 39th HR):

The Boston Red Sox kept their four-game lead over the Yankees, with a 3-0 win against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Tim Wakefield pitched 8 scoreless innings of 2-hit ball, and Jonathan Papelbon pitched a hitless ninth, including two Ks. Red Sox Nation breathes easy. For now.

Richie Sexson was The Man for the Seattle Mariners, hitting a walk off homerun to propel the Mariners over the Twins by a score of 4-3. Richie really isn’t that cute, but hitting a walk-off makes you hot, at least for a day. Because of that win, the Mariners and the Yankees remain tied for the Wild Card lead.

And in foobaw news, the Iggles lost to the Baltimore Ravens (sorry, Clare), and the Denver Broncos beat the San Francisco 49-ers. At least the Niners are coached by Mike Nolan, a hot older man if I’ve ever seen one.