In perusing the Internets this afternoon, there were a handful of interesting things out there that were worth passing along.
For instance:
According to a story on Fox Sports’ web site by Tracy Ringolsby, Charlie Manuel stuck with lefty J.C. Romero with two outs in the eighth inning in Game 3 of the NLDS against right-handed pinch-hitter Jeff Baker instead of going to righty closer Brett Myers because, Myers wasn’t ready to go into the game.
As some might recall, Baker got the game-winning hit to eliminate the Phillies and Manuel was questioned after the loss in Game 3 of the NLDS why he stuck with the lefty Romero against the right-handed Baker.
Ringolsby writes:
Charlie Manuel is definitely old-school. He handled second-guessing about not bringing right-hander Brett Myers into Game 3 of the NL Division Series to face right-handed pinch-hitter Jeff Baker, who delivered the series-winning hit off lefty J.C. Romero, accepting the barbs. Word, however, is that the Phillies did call down to the bullpen to check on Myers and were told he wasn't ready to enter the game so Manuel actually had no choice.
Meanwhile, Oscar Pereiro, the runner-up in the 2006 Tour de France to Floyd Landis was awarded the yellow jersey to symbolize his “victory” in the race. Rather than give Pereiro the jersey at the Champs-Élysées with all the pomp that goes with such a “victory,” the UCI and Tour de France brass held the ceremony in an office building in Madrid.
Way to go all out for your guy, UCI.
Nevertheless, the interesting part is how long will Pereiro be acknowledged as the “winner.” After all, a final decision in the appeal process for Floyd Landis’ case is not expected until February from the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport. If Landis wins the case, what happens to Pereiro’s yellow jersey then?
Interestingly, Pereiro – who clearly is milking his one and only chance to be celebrated as a champion after he choked on an eight-minute lead in the ’06 Tour was barely a blip on the standings board in ’07 – is full of bluster regarding his “victory.”
“It's good for sport to have mechanisms that can filter out those who cheat,” Pereiro said during the ceremony.
But what about Landis' appeal?
“I now realize the Tour organisers had to wait for a resolution and I was wrong about them even though Landis has appealed again against the decision," Pereiro said during the ceremony.
“This is a very important day for me and I’m not going to ruin it by thinking about any appeal.”
So he would do anything to win?
Still, are those mechanisms closing in on Pereiro?
During the 2006 Tour de France, Pereiro failed a doping test when traces of the anti-asthma drug salbutamol are found in a urine sample. The UCI cleared Pereiro of doping after claiming he had a medical clearance to use the drug. However, there is speculation that Pereiro is associated with the infamous “Operation Puerto,” which based on the Tour de France’s practices during the ’07 race, is enough to suspend the Spanish rider.
That’s especially the case when one considers that Pereiro was adamant about not subjecting himself to DNA testing to clear himself in Operation Puerto:
“It's unfair that cyclists have to prove our innocence. I am ready to do anything, but if I have to use DNA to demonstrate my innocence, I will leave cycling, because it's obvious that cycling like that isn't worth it.”
Apparently, that’s not the case for Floyd Landis. Instead he believes it is worth it to subject his name and reputation to incredible scrutiny by putting himself through the flawed “mechanisms.”