It’s a sad day for the baseball world. Bobby Thomson – the facilitator of “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” – has passed away at the age of 86.

Not many people know, but the Giants had to win nine of their final 10 games in order to edge the Brooklyn Dodgers for the pennant. Yes, they lost to the Yanks in the World Series, but their historic 1951 season wouldn’t be remembered without the heroics of Mr. Thomson.

In the immortalized words of Russ Hodges: “The Giants win the Pennant! The Giants win the Pennant!…”

There’s nothing better than cooling down after a hot summer day with an ice cold Miller Lite. No dingus, not by drinking it, but by dousing your entire face in it’s pilsner freshness. Ahh, now that’s invigorating.

Just minutes before the signing deadline – like Stephen Strasburg last season – the Nationals inked highly-touted slugger Bryce Harper to a shiny $9.9 million contract.

Good for him, but does anyone else see problems with Harper’s swing? Aside from his heralded power, footage seems to reveal his swing is incredibly long – arms swaying and head lunging – which may cause significant problems against the much higher-level pitching he’ll soon face. Sure, Vladimir Guerrero is the easy exception to fundamentals, but there’s no one like Vladdy.

Plus, Harper’s only 17. ESPN’s Tim Keown explains Harper’s highly irregular rearing…

[Harper] skipped his final two years of high school to get his GED and enter junior college so as to get drafted a year earlier than otherwise allowed. Ten million bucks or not, that’s simply not a normal upbringing.

I can’t see this kid making the jump to the Bigs anywhere close to how Strasburg did. Maturity-level and swing simplification, he’s got a lot of growing up to do.

I’m sick of sports writers erecting statues of praise for a washed up LaDainian Tomlinson.

Believe me, as a San Diegan, I had the honor of watching a sure-fire Hall of Famer rack up the milestones for nine magnificent seasons. But those days are gone. Now it’s time to let LT drift away from stardom like a smoggy Los Angeles sunset.

…At least don’t praise the guy for mediocre stats, like ESPN’s Tim Graham…

Tomlinson didn’t look old to me. His numbers weren’t prolific, eight carries for 17 yards and one catch for 14 yards. But Tomlinson didn’t look over the hill. He showed a burst on a 14-yard would-be touchdown run that was nullified by a holding penalty.

…Or narrate one play like it’s from “300,” courtesy of the Wall Street Journal’s Scott Cacciola…

Tomlinson caught the ball along the Jets’ sideline and scrambled toward the end zone before he was dragged down at the Giants’ 4-yard line. Mr. Tomlinson, a running back who was making his Jets debut, popped back to his feet after the 14-yard gain in the first quarter and pumped his arms, a symbolic moment for a player and a team embarking on new challenges.

Gag me. Here’s a letter I wrote:

Dear East Coast,
Here’s what you’ll get from LT in 2010: Eddie George, circa 2004, but with hands.
Respectfully,
Someone With Realistic Expectations

They’re the mind-boggler that refuses to quit. Believe it or not, the San Diego Padres have the third-best record in all of baseball.

With a convincing win tonight in Chicago, the Friars nabbed their 70th win – becoming the first NL team to do so this season.

But it’s the minimal number of games it took them to reach No. 70 that’s so impressive…

San Diego Padres (All-Time): Fewest Games Played to Reach 70th Win
1998: 108
2010: 117
1984: 118
2007: 128

Remember anything about 1998 and 1984? World Series appearances. Looks like the Pads are surrounded by good memories here – maybe a trophy would be nicer, though?