Halfway home after tonight

Game #81 starts in a moment...and the Nats sit at 48-32.
Let me say that again. The Nats are 48-32, and atop the NL East. Sinking in yet, America?
This is fun. And oh yes, Strasmas goes against Drew Pomeranz...meaning we get to see two guys from the '09 NCAA tournament go head-to-head as pros (since they didn't in college*).
*Strasburg at San Diego State, Pomeranz at Ole Miss
At any rate, the so-called "experts" can shut up now. This Nats team is for real.
Now if they just get a top notch pitcher by the trade deadline to step in when Strasburg gets shut down in September...

News items?

Now that the Nats and Orioles have wrapped up their annual exercise...with the O's pulling it out yesterday on Brian Roberts' 2-run homer...I guess I can talk about some other things in the baseball world.
If they had told me when the season started Kevin Youkilis would become expendable in late June, I would've told you that you were a candidate for Bellevue. But that's what happened yesterday, as Youk goes to the White Sox for Brent Lillibridge.
I had this feeling when I started reading about Will Middlebrooks, that Youk's days were numbered in Boston. So I can say I got to see him play in person when I was there 2 weeks ago. Anyway...
So happy to see Derek Norris make it to Oakland...and just as overjoyed when he hit a 3-run walkoff jack yesterday to win it for the A's. (To refresh your memory, he went over--along w/Tom Milone, AJ Cole and Brad Peacock--in the Gio Gonzalez deal in the winter.)
They have a new hero in Oakland now, and his name is Derek Norris.
Lastly, Livan Hernandez is in Milwaukee now. Can't fault Livo for wanting to extend his career, but I still wish he were here w/the Nats (even if it meant coming out of the bullpen like he said he wanted to do). Oh well, we can't have everything go our way...lol
At any rate, we're still in first. Now on to Colorado for three...