"Aren't we all day-to-day?"

Nationals 4, Diamondbacks 3
Diamondbacks 3, Nationals 2

Two games split, and neither game a terribly impressive showing. But we've finally beaten the Nation-os (check your grocer's shelves!) and ended that streak. Jose Cruz Jr. had a decent showing on Monday night, as did Craig Counsell. They went a combined 4 for 5 with 5 walks, so we had runners. We managed to put together 11 hits, but we left 13 on base, and were just short offensively to get the win. And last night was pretty much the opposite. Three hits, and we win 3-2. Webb and Estes put up fairly similar numbers in each game, but it was just when we managed to get our hits that made the difference. Lyon did get his 12th save, in what was his first save situation in a week. After getting 10 saves in our first 21 games, he's only had two more in the last 13. We're either losing or winning by too big a margin.

Another game against Washington tonight, and then we start a road trip against the abominable Rockies. Which could be very good for the D-backs. There seems to be a fair bit of stress in the clubhouse right now, and getting out of Phoenix, plus a trip to the team with the worst record in the NL, might be just the thing to get them a little more comfortable with where they are.

As the Mariner Housewife put it:

Baseball has seen its share of scandals. The Black Sox, the cancellation of the '94 World Series, and now steroids, are just a few major examples. There has been more than one occasion, even just in my lifetime, when fans have had their loyalty to the game called into question, and a serious examination of conscience has been required. Many have sworn off baseball forever after one blemish after another on the honor of the game*. But something always happens to turn it around. Baseball magic shows up just long enough to bring that old love and excitement back again. It happened in '98 when Sosa and McGwire famously chased after the home run record. And it's happening again now. There's a mystical force at work, providing an antidote to the embarrassment of performance enhancing drugs and all the questions that go along with that. That antidote is the delicious disaster of the 2005 New York Yankees.

The Yankees are looking to win their fifth in a row today, but will be doing it against the sub-par Mariners (sorry, Housewife) and not easily. They've already given up 9 runs, including 4 home runs to the Mariners, a team that only had 19 home runs so far this season. That's impressive. And now they are currently considering giving Jason Giambi a free trip- to the minor leagues! Turns out the "slugger" is batting .195 and is 4 for his last 38. All that for only $13.5 mill a year. Sure makes Richie Sexson seem like a bargain last year, huh?

Programming Note: Line Drive in the High Desert will be facing a (hopefully) brief interruption of service next week, as they'll be relocating their offices. Their status is listed as 'day-to-day.'