By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum was scratched from a start against the Chicago Cubs because of a blister on his right middle finger.
Reserved for the better part of February for the contentious process of salary arbitration, the Ellis East Room on the second floor of the Hyatt Regency Phoenix went unused. For the first time since arbitration began in 1974, none of the players who filed wound up arguing their cases.
There's something different about spring training this year. It came early because of the World Baseball Classic, and Tim Lincecum came without his long locks.
Banished to the bullpen, a two-time Cy Young Award winner has become baseball's most distinguished middle reliever.
Nothing is stopping them — not even the Triple Crown winner at the plate with the bases loaded. Armed and accelerating, the San Francisco Giants became the first team to throw consecutive World Series shutouts in nearly a half-century, blanking Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers 2-0 on a chilly Saturday night for a commanding 3-0 lead.
Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong was lifted with two outs in the sixth, after 104 pitches and his fourth walk of the game.
After getting 2 1-3 hitless innings of relief from Tim Lincecum, the Giants are handing the ball to closer Sergio Romo in the ninth. He's trying to nail down a 2-0 win over Detroit for a commanding 3-0 lead in the World Series.
That's it. The final score is Giants 2, Tigers 0 for the second consecutive game in this World Series.
Pete Rose sat in the World Series. So did Reggie Jackson, Barry Zito and Paul O'Neill. Tim Lincecum lost his spot in the San Francisco Giants' rotation this October, and Jose Valverde forfeited his role as the Detroit Tigers' closer.
The empty champagne bottle sitting in the clubhouse as players passed by on their way to the showers was the only remaining sign of the celebration of a few nights earlier, when the San Francisco Giants somehow found their way into the World Series.
Barry Zito never expected to start a World Series opener. Years ago, he learned not to count on anything in his baseball career.
Game 1 of the 2012 World Series is in the books. Pablo Sandoval hit three home runs and the San Francisco Giants cruised to an 8-3 rout of the Detroit Tigers behind Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum.
From postseason bystander to starting the World Series opener. That's how far Barry Zito has come in two years to resurrect his career.
Barry Zito is playing his part in this World Series, all right.
The Babe. Mr. October. El Hombre. And now Kung Fu Panda.
Lincecum said he didn't think the injury was serious and said he planned to still play catch.
"The second we got that ring, it's like that taste for that next ring is just sitting right in your mouth the whole time," Lincecum said before stopping himself. "That sounds terrible. Let me rephrase that. It just leaves you wanting it even more, and if that means being a good teammate or being in the bullpen, I really don't care. I just want to win."
