Lazy Sunday: (Monday Edition)

*Glad to see the M’s take two out of three against the Red Sox. If you would have told me before the series started that we would win 2 games with the fearsome trio of (Jakubauskas, Olsen, and Vargus) on the bump, I would have thought you had the swine flu. While Jak/Olsen will not be in the rotation a month from now, I like what I’ve seen thus far out of Vargus. He’s got a tough competitive spirit and is not afraid to challenge hitters inside. He has shown some balls that we desperately lack in the rotation.

*There are rumblings that the M’s are looking into dealing Yuni B. to the Pirates for SS Jack Wilson. I like the idea but am still holding out hope that Jack Z. can get a better deal for our free swinging, pudgy, little SS . Wilson is 4 years older than Yuni at 31 (although Yuni might be 35 for all we know). Wilson, like Yuni, does not walk either. Plus, Wilson is making a laughable 7. 4 million in 2009. Hold onto your money JZ—there will be a better deal for Yuni closer to the deadline provided Yuni doesn’t keep throwing baseballs into the stands. Wasn’t he supposed to be a potential gold-glover?

*Kudos to Wak for finally demoting Morrow to middle relief. How many more games were we going to watch him serve gopher balls two decks up into the stands? I swear he was crying when he gave up those two monster jacks against Texas last week. Note to M’s pitching coach Rick Adair: piping 95 mph fastballs down the heart of the plate against big-leaguers equals disaster. Teach young Brandon to throw something else. Why can’t anyone show him to throw a change-up or a nice little slide piece? Give the hitters something else to look at beside wheel-house fastballs down the heart of the dish.

*I am starting to blame the M’s hitting woes solely on Adrian Beltre—I still don’t have the heart to say anything negative about Griffey. Griff could be hitting .056 and I would still drop what I am doing to watch him hit. I still think Jr. will heat up…but maybe not. Beltre, on the other hand, is a complete disaster. Yes, he can glove it. Yes, he doesn’t wear a cup at the hot corner. But I am sick of his free swinging approach too. He is just as bad as Yuni and Lopez. Beltre will not walk and pitchers are NOT afraid to challenge him. This is steroid deflation at its worst. The guy comes up with runners on base every time he steps up and doesn’t do anything to help us. He either strikes out or pops up in the infield. In 152 AB’s this season, Beltre has 2 ding-dongs and 15 RBIs. Ouch!! He has only walked 6 times all season. Scott Boras: get Adrian back on the juice, PLEASE!! If Beltre performs to average #4 hitters across the league, the M’s would be well over .500. I thought earlier this season the M’s should try to resign him long term—I was wrong.

*Anyone else looking forward to a LeBron/Kobe finals? I am too but hang on just one second. The Lakers are playing uninspired right now and a depleted Rockets team took them to a game 7. They should have beaten them in 5 (at most). The Nuggets, on the other hand, are the second hottest team behind the Cavs in the playoffs. George finally has his boys playing D in Denver. The acquisition of Billups was the best trade of the NBA season. Billups is the veteran piece this team has been missing the past five seasons. Although the hype of LeBron/Kobe would be ridiculous, expect to see a Nuggets/Cavs finals. The Zenmaster’s tricks aren’t working on Bynum who has not been a difference-maker whatsoever in the playoffs.

*Kudos to Sark for picking up another athletic WR this week from California. Remember the name Tevin Carter. Hopefully, he and Heaps will lead us back to the Rose Bowl in 2012. Carter is 6-3 and weighs in at 190 lbs. And he’s fast…running at a 10.81 clip in the 100 meters.

*The Hawks can win 10 games next season. Mark it down. If Hasselbeck stays healthy, we can regain the power thrown in the NFL West. Arizona is still not that good, either is STL or SF. Ruskell: find us a running back please! I like Mr. Kratz’s suggestion of M. Vick. Why not take a flier on Vick? Put him back in a offensive style he is familiar (Knapp) with a coach he is familiar with (Mora) and Vick might attack linebackers like he does opposing dogs…(sorry couldn’t help it). A flier cannot hurt. Vick has something to prove and the Hawks could use his speed and ability in the backfield.

*Believe it or not the M’s are 4-2 against the Halos this year. I would love to see us take 3 out of 4. Go M’s!!