MULTI-TASKING

I've got two monitors hooked up to my computer. On one, I've got a browser with the Gameday action for the Nationals@Mets. In a browser just below that I've got the video stream of the Pirates@Cubs. My alarm clock radio is broadcasting the Brewers@Giants game in the bedroom and my portable short-wave radio is broadcasting the same in the kitchen while I repot my orchids. Multimedia rules!

Nationals are beginning to pay for their fiery early success this season, unable to withstand the superior firepower of New York. But that's OK. The Nationals are clearly a team that struggles against starting pitchers, bursting late in the game like clockwork. The question is, can they burst late in the game enough to make up for the lack of hits earlier in the game. We'll see. I like studying them.

In the top of the 7th, with Maddux still pitching beautifully, it's 1-2, Pittsburgh. Apparently, Maddux is 20th in the all-time wins list, reaching today for win #306. Go, old man!

Moises Alou is back in action in San Francisco, which is very exciting. We've missed him terribly. Lance Niekro is filling in for cutie-pie J.T. Snow. Vizquel and Metheny have the day off, so Deivi Cruz (whom I met in Scottsdale) will work his special kind of athleticism at shortstop, while Torrealba works home plate. Crossing my fingers...