Rays problems

On the front page of AOL this morning it showed B.J. Upton being held back when he was confronted by Evan Longoria. This was regarding his trotting to get the ball hit in the gap in the Sundays game against the Diamondbacks. This writer thinks it is about time that one of the players put him in his place. It isn't the first time that he has loafed. There have been numerous times that he may have beat out a grounder hit it the infield. Granted he makes some nice catchs in centerfield. But only because he plays so shawllow. He is not hitting his hat size. For you old time Yankee fans, does anyone remember Billy Martin. It would have been shame on Upton. I think it is about time for Joe Maddon to realize that changing the lineup every day is not getting it done. I don't think Jackson would have gotton that no-hitter if Crawford had of been in the line-up. Yeah yeah I know he was in the lineup when that guy from Oakland, Dallas something or other. What a strange name for a man, much less a baseball player. Ha, ha I am outta of here. UC157 Larry

The Rays

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays socked it to the San Diego Padres 5-3 Thursday afternoon with a cadre of players who earned their stripes – and a manager who found a most creative way to fire up his team in getting the boot.

Prior to the game, skipper Joe Maddon and five of his starting players donned ’70s-style striped stirrup socks of navy, light blue and white ordered by equipment manager Chris “Westy” Westmoreland – anything to change their recent run of misfortune and six losses in the previous seven games. I can recall wearing this type of leggings. Except mine were cut higher on the back of the heel. Does anyone remember the big long white socks that went on before the outer socks with the strips. If this catches on with the Rays maybe it will have the same effect that the mohawk had when it seemed to put them on a roll. However nothing can replace the Dodger Blue. Now if my Dodgers could now put a whippin on the ole pin stripsUc157 Larry

How about this for a "tip"

(June 16) -- Taxi driver Don Pratt said he took it with "a pinch of salt" when a longtime customer said she would "look after" him in her will. But the salt took on a very sweet taste when he learned she meant exactly what she said -- to the tune of $370,000.

Pratt, 65, spent 20 years taking Mary Watson on countless shopping trips around her home in Cornwall, England, and she had always been a good tipper.

But he said he couldn't believe it when a call from Watson's lawyer confirmed she had left him the biggest tip possible: her entire estate, including her house and her savings.

"She was a very nice lady, always very generous. We would always have a good chat while I ferried her around," Pratt said, the British media reported today.

And although she had told him, "When I pass on I'll look after you," Pratt said he had "no idea she was going to leave me a fortune."

Watson, who died this year at age 86, moved into a home for the elderly a few years ago in Northampton, in the English Midlands.

The two "lost contact completely," Pratt was quoted as saying in London's Daily Mail, but Watson stayed true to her word.

Pratt, a cab driver for 30 years and a father of four, said the money will enable him to retire, but he won't stop driving.

"We want to go around England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland -- to start with, anyway."

Pratt said he was not sure how Watson's family felt about the will, but a spokeswoman for the care home in Northampton said, "She didn't have any close family to speak of," and that "there was a whole side to her life we didn't know about."

She added: "It's a very generous thing to do and he obviously had a great impact on her life. He must have been a very good driver."

Good, and now able to take as many cab rides as he might like.

Oh my!!!

Today is the first time in 51 days that the Tampa Bay Rays have not had sole possion of first place in the Eastern division of the American League. Also the Celtic's have taken a commanding lead in the NBA Finals. They are going back to Los Angeles for game's 6 and 7. No folks it is not a typo, I said 6 and 7. In closing this is the first time that my Los Angeles Dodgers have been swept by the Angels at Dodger Stadium. I do believe that is a long time. Also does anyone care to respond on the crappy umpiring that has been going on in the MLB. Jim Joyce at least admintted he made a mistake. UC157 Larry