Today's Topics: AL East, Strasburg, Roddick

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There’s a reason they play the games, all 162 of them.

Before the season, many baseball fans expected the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays to battle for the AL East title.

Replace the disappointing Bosox with the surprising Orioles, and that’s what you have.

Just a few weeks ago, I expressed amazement that this Yankees team, banged up and full of veteran players, led the division by 10 games.

There’s no such amazement now. New York is clinging to its lead, with younger (and hungrier?) Baltimore and Tampa Bay driving hard.

If George Steinbrenner were alive, he surely would be fighting the Giants and Jets for the back pages of the tabloids. :)

The next four weeks are going to be fun … unless your team fails to reach postseason.

Roddick retires

So what’s the over/under on years before Andy Roddick comes out of retirement – 2?

The Strasburg Plan

Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make two more starts before being shut down for the season. That, despite the Nats being on the verge of an NL East crown.

Earlier this season, the Nationals announced Strasburg’s innings would be limited in 2012, less than two years after the right-hander with the golden arm underwent Tommy John surgery.

Thinking long-term, even with Washington in contention, is difficult to dispute. Talented pitchers such as Strasburg don't appear often.

But if you disagree with Washington's plan, don’t blame general manager Mike Rizzo. He’s in a tough spot thanks to agent Scott Boras.

When Strasburg signed with Washington in 2009, Boras said he wanted an organization that put his client’s health first. If not, Boras insinuated future clients wouldn’t be headed to the nation's capital.

Boras currently represents several Nationals, including young star Bryce Harper.

So, Rizzo's eye on the future is focused on more than just Strasburg.

Today's Topics: Sports heckler, Sabathia, Dong

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Relaxing at home Friday night enabled me to catch some interesting sports sights on TV.

1. He's baaack!

When I flipped on the Marlins-Nationals game, the camera was focused on Miami batter Donovan Solano. 

But wait a sec, that looks like Robin Ficker sitting a few rows behind the Marlins dugout?

Don't know who Robin Ficker is? Well, he became a nationally known heckler when he attended Washington Bullets games. His verbal assaults were directed at the opponents. He was loud, could be clever and didn't limit himself to NBA events.

To me, Ficker fell under the category G.A.L (Get A Life). I was shocked to learn that Ficker apparently was an attorney -- so he should have had half a brain.

A quick web search resulted in news Ficker has been attending Nationals games. In fact, he even got an autograph baseball recently from Rays manager Joe Maddon.

I guess Ficker continues to search for a life ... or attention ... or both.

2. C.C. not yanked

Switching to the Yankees-Mariners game, I found it a little strange seeing Ichiro Suzuki wearing the Pinstripes against his former team.

But then I saw something more unusual than that.

Despite giving up a two-run homer in the ninth inning, C.C. Sabathia was allowed to finsih what he started in New York's 6-3 victory. He earned his ninth complete game as a Yankee and 35th overall.

These days, it seems complete games are less common than no-hitters.

3.  China's Dong

Turned to NBC just in time to see a Russian bouncing up and down and quickly surmised Trampoline was an Olympic sport. 

Then again, if Synchronized Diving has a place at the Games, why not Trampoline?

Apparently, the Russian bounced and contorted his body sufficiently enough to earn a medal with one competitor to go. That competitor? China's Dong Dong.

Dong exploded onto the trampoline and proceeded to, as they say in golf, knock it stiff. He took the gold.  

Dong Dong. Sounds like a helluva Synchronized Swimming team.

Today's Topics: Player arrests, Theo stalker

Player arrests in full force

There's a popular saying that things run in 3s. But when it comes to athletes/celebs being arrested, it seems more like they run in three sets of 3 x 3.

Joining the recently charged DUI/DWI stars, Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in Oakland. That, on the same weekend of Jason Kidd’s wild night in the Hamptons.

Lynch is a running back who apparently loves to reverse field

His DUI arrest came two days after he and 49ers QB Josh Johnson awarded a scholarship to an Oakland gunshot victim.

But back in 2011, Alameda County (Calif.) prosecutors declined to file charges against Lynch after his former girlfriend alleged he tried to kill her and forced her to touch him sexually.

Other stars arrested during the past weekend included Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and Cowboys WR Dez Bryant on a misdemeanor domestic charge.

I'd just like to say, "Thanks, guys. You made this a good week in which to start a blog."

Theo stalker arrested

First Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman, now Cubs GM Theo Epstein. And we thought these guys wouldn't be tied together after Theo bolted the Red Sox.

A Massachusetts woman was arrested and charged with felony stalking of Epstein after telling police she was inviting the Cub stud to "go to church."

Theo, she sounds like a keeper.

Cashman, you might recall, apparently was a bit of a player himself. One of his former mistresses was arrested for extorting money from the Yanks GM. She was released from jail recently.