Manny hitless in return from 50-game ban (AP)

Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues as only he could. Wearing sunglasses and with his famous dreadlocks in a ponytail, the Los Angeles Dodgers' slugger apologized to fans and teammates during a news conference Friday afternoon. He refused to answer questions about steroids, laying off them as if they were pitches in the dirt.

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WGOM Wellness Challenge 2009-June

8. Your MetabolismThe traditional method of thinking when it comes to weight loss is something like this: If you burn more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. Many people go out and binge and then think "I need to go for an extra long work out to make up [...]

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http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2009/07/03/wgom-wellness-challenge-2009-june/

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De La Rosa pitches Rockies past Arizona (AP)

Jorge De La Rosa begged for the ball in the ninth inning, wanting desperately to get a chance at his first career complete game. That idea was quickly rejected by Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy. Not because of a high pitch count or ineffectiveness, Tracy simply wanted to get his relievers some work.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2009/07/04/de-la-rosa-pitches-rockies-past-arizona-ap/

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Rangers Hunter turns 23, gets first win (AP)

Tommy Hunter gave the ailing Texas Rangers rotation a much-needed lift Friday night. The rookie also got a cool birthday gift in the process. Hunter earned his first career victory on his 23rd birthday, Hank Blalock homered and the Texas Rangers won their third in a row, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2009/07/04/rangers-hunter-turns-23-gets-first-win-ap/

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The Win Goes Z Cubs Way - Cubs 2 Brewers 1

Game Seventy-Seven - Cubs 2 Brewers 1 - 10 innings
WP - Kevin Gregg (3-2) LP - Mark DiFelice (4-1) Save - None

What a ballgame and the Cubs might have gotten a gift on the final call by homeplate umpire Bill Welke.

Ryan Theriot started the tenth with a one-out single off Craig Counsell's glove into right field. On a 1-2 pitch to Derrek Lee, Mark DiFelice uncorked a wild pitch that advanced Theriot to second. Lee flied out to right and his productive out advanced Theriot to third with two outs. Ken Macha then intentionally walked Milton Bradley that put runners on first and third with two outs.

Lou Piniella went to his bench for Geovany Soto. The Brewers decided not to hold Bradley on at first and Bradley took second on the first pitch of Soto's at bat. DiFelice then pitched around Soto before issuing an intentional walk to load the bases.

Jake Fox stepped to the plate with the game on the line. Fox was overly aggressive on DiFelice's first pitch and swung right over the top of the ball. Fox then changed his approach, settled down and looked at three straight out of the strike zone. After getting ahead in the count 3-1, Fox fouled off the next four pitches from DiFelice before looking at the ninth pitch of the at bat. Fox walked and Theriot jogged in from third ... Cubs Win!

The Cubs offense struggled all afternoon against Jeff Suppan. They managed only one run on four hits in seven innings. Carlos Zambrano drove in the Cubs' lone run against Suppan, a single to center in the fifth. The Cubs did not make him work. Suppan walked two batters and hit two others but threw only 90 pitches (48 for strikes) in seven innings. The Cubs finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.

In his return to the top spot in Lou Piniella's lineup, Alfonso Soriano was a weak 0-for-5 and left three on base.

Carlos Zambrano pitched his way in and out of jams all afternoon. While Zambrano did not have his best stuff, he was effective and allowed one run in seven innings of work. The only run Zambrano surrendered was on a bases loaded walk to Corey Hart in the fourth. The Brewers, like the Cubs, were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.

Aaron Heilman pitched a tremendous eighth inning. Heilman retired all three batters he faced on 16 pitches. Kevin Gregg picked up his third win of the year after his third two-inning outing of the season.

Gregg did an excellent job of pitching around Milton Bradley's mistake in the ninth. Jason Kendall hit a routine fly to right with two outs in the ninth. Bradley lost the ball in the sun and it appeared to hit off his head. Kendall hustled to second with the go ahead run. Gregg then hit Craig Counsell and put runners on first and second ahead of Ryan Braun.

Kevin Gregg jammed Braun on a 2-2 pitch and one of the best sluggers in the game popped out to Ryan Theriot to end the inning. Gregg sat the Brewers down in order in the tenth.

The Cubs improved to a game over .500 on the season with another dramatic walk-off win at Wrigley ... the Cubs sixth victory in a row at home.

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Cubs Ramirez, Johnson make rehab starts (AP)

Aramis Ramirez had a double in three plate appearances in his first rehabilitation game since going on the disable list May 9 with a dislocated left shoulder. The Chicago Cubs third baseman also walked and lined out to right field, and scored two runs for the Class A Peoria Chiefs on Friday night. Also, Cubs [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2009/07/04/cubs-ramirez-johnson-make-rehab-starts-ap/

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Weakness Which Leads To Perfection

What is meant in St Paul?s second letter to the Corinthians, where he notes that God spoke to him saying, "My grace is enough for you, for in human weakness the power of God reaches perfection?" Fr Vallee gives us his thoughts on it and concludes his homily this way:

The point is that it does not matter what Paul?s ?weakness? is. We all have weaknesses and stuff about ourselves we are ashamed of. The point is God?s response to Paul?s weakness. Because God addresses our weaknesses with the same words. God tells Paul: ?My grace is enough for you, for in human weakness the power of God reaches perfection.? We don?t have to be perfect. In fact, the fact that we are not perfect is precisely what forces us to realize our need for God?s grace. Ignatius of Loyola wrote: Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace; that is enough for me.

The email address to request to be put on Vallee's email distribution list is Cioran262@aol.com. To see the entire homily click on 'read more.' Search for other Fr Vallee homilies in this blog by entering 'Vallee' in the search box in the upper left hand corner or look for Fr Vallee in the Labels.

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Fr Vallee Homily - July 4, 2009

I. Thorn in the flesh, angel of Satan
One of the most amazing passages of Scripture, in my view at least, is today?s second reading from Paul?s second letter to the Corinthians. Paul writes: ?In order that I might not become inflated and arrogant, I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to beat me and keep me from becoming proud. Three times I begged the Lord to take this from me. But he said, ?My grace is enough for you, for in human weakness the power of God reaches perfection.?? This is a very beautiful and yet somewhat enigmatic passage. Notice that Paul does not tell us what exactly this ?thorn in the flesh? might be. We can be pretty sure as to what it is not. It is not pain or persecution, trials or tribulations. Why? Because Paul just told us that he willingly boasts of what he suffers for the sake of the Gospel. So what is it that so torments Paul? One thing is sure, it something that Paul sees as a weakness and something not to boast of but to be ashamed of.

II. First Possible thorn: character flaw
There are many possibilities as to the nature of this ?angel of Satan.? Let?s look at three. First, Paul could be referring to some sort of a character flaw on his part. He had several to deal with. His worst problem was that he had a terrible temper and an acidic tongue. When Barnabas in Acts, asks him to take back John Mark, Paul says he is a baby and should go back home to his mommy. In Galatians, he writes, with a somewhat poisonous pen, ?how stupid can you be!? Later in Galatians, Paul writes, ?Henceforth, let no man bother me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord?s passion.? One thing is certain, Paul was not so good at playing nice with the other children.

III. Second: Physical problem
The second possibility is that Paul could have been talking about some sort of physical problem which may have gotten in the way of his preaching the Gospel. For example, it is believed that Paul stuttered. This, of course would have affected his ability to preach the Gospel. In the 20th chapter of Acts we read that Paul was preaching, ?on and on? and a young man got so bored that he fell from a third story window and died. Paul had to go down and raise him from the dead. My homilies are not always great but I have never killed anyone. Which is all for the best, being that I am not at all confident about the raising from the dead part afterwards. Also, when Paul describes his fits and seizures, some modern doctors have surmised that he was perhaps an epileptic. Of course, is always a bit dangerous to perform such anachronistic diagnoses.

IV. Moral Problem
The third and, I think, the most interesting possibility is that Paul is alluding to some sort of moral flaw, some sort of sin he struggles with. We have already seen that he has a bit of trouble with wrath and pride and envy. But maybe it is something else. A French psychologist wrote a book in the 1980s which analyzed all of Paul?s comments about women and suggests that Paul does not like them very much. Not to put too fine a point on it but that Paul perhaps struggled with desires which ran contrary to nature. Of course, there is no way to know being that Paul doesn?t say.

V. Grace is enough
The point is that it does not matter what Paul?s ?weakness? is. We all have weaknesses and stuff about ourselves we are ashamed of. The point is God?s response to Paul?s weakness. Because God addresses our weaknesses with the same words. God tells Paul: ?My grace is enough for you, for in human weakness the power of God reaches perfection.? We don?t have to be perfect. In fact, the fact that we are not perfect is precisely what forces us to realize our need for God?s grace. Ignatius of Loyola wrote: Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace; that is enough for me.
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http://www.2thinkgood.com/2009/07/weakness-which-leads-to-perfection.html

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Pitching matchups for the rest of the Blue Jays
series

Sorry for not getting this up before the series. The Yankees will continue this series tomorrow afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays.  Halladay vs. Wang should be a really good matchup. Here are the pitching probables for the rest of the series:Sat: RHP Chien-Ming Wang (1-6, 10.06) vs. RHP Roy Halladay (10-2, 2.56)Sun: RHP Joba Chamberlain [...]

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YankeesRumors/~3/BNG6KWtAtWY/

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The Yankee brand can be seen anywhere.

     The Yankees are the most famous sports franchise in the world. Anywhere you go there is always a chance you see a Yankees logo, name, or player. You never know what you might see. Take a look… ———————————————————————————————————Another snoozer for Joba / It?s amazing what two days off can doHinske at the hot corner? / Quick Hits: [...]

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UPDATE: Baseball Milestones To Look Forward To In
2009.

I thought it would be a good time to review what potential baseball milestones were in line for us to witness during the 2009 season.  I originally posted this blog on April 2nd as I was getting prepared for what looked like could be a very historic season.I will leave the entire post in tact and [...]

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http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/update-baseball-milestones-to-look-for
ward-to-in-2009/

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