Sunday Funnies: McKayla’s Not Impressed?

After the news from yesterday, I think we need to inject a little humor into the fan base. Or at least some stuff that will distract us from the Votto news.

Oops…

I know you’ve seen at least one meme featuring U.S. Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney. Regardless if you have or haven’t, there’s so much catching up for you to do.

Over on Yahoo!, Chris Chase of Fourth Place Medal tells us of the fad (how can you not know of this?!?!) and how Maroney was a willing participant in creating a new “thing” that doesn’t impress her (along with teammates Aly Raisman and Kyla Ross). Yes, the image alone is worth the visit. After that…

There is now a site (called McKayla Is Not Impressed) where Maroney’s likeness (you know, the one with the sneer as she has her silver medal around her neck?) has been photoshopped into different places, situations, etc, not being impressed.

Yes, this site, too, is a must visit…and you will be laughing at some of the ingenious “events” that have not impressed Maroney.

So will this overtake Condescending Wonka?

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The Washington Nationals season is no laughing matter. It’s a surprise few saw coming. Hard to believe that Stephen Strasburg will be shut down after no more than 180 innings pitched. Why? Recovering from Tommy John he had in late 2010, but as The Hall of Very Good tells us, TJ himself does not think this is the route the Nats should go.

John’s reason? He tells HOVG…

"“After I had (Tommy John surgery), the only way we knew to get my arm stronger was to throw. So I threw every day. And the more I threw…the better my arm felt. I never missed a start in the thirteen years after arm surgery because of my arm being sore or stiff because I threw off a mound to a catcher every single day.”"

Hey, he had the procedure named after him for cryin’ out loud. I would think he’d know a thing or two about how to properly recover. Funny thing is, it’s like that for many pitchers that are coming back from the surgery. John, as you’ve read, was the opposite.

I also think it’s funny (as in strange) that Nats GM Mike Rizzo will look into the faces of the other 24 guys and say something like “Great season guys, but our best pitcher will be shelved for the rest of the season”.

Strasburg is sitting at 133.1 innings. No more than 46.2 innings, maybe as few as 26.2 innings remains in his 2012.

There is a potential silver lining here. Strasburg could be used as a pinch-hitter. He’s batting .316 with a homer and 7 RBI. Why not? The Reds use Mike Leake in that role.

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As bad as people crack on the Chicago Cubs, we must consider something here. The Cubs are not in last place in the NL Central. You are probably well aware that the Houston Astros (seen as AAAstros, Lastros, Disastros) occupy the division cellar. But look here…

Sure, the Cubs have the third least number of wins in all of baseball with 44. Yet, here they are, 7.5 games ahead of the Astros.

Houston won’t be in the division next season as they venture over the the AL West, a move I still believe Mr. Selig hoodwinked Jim Crane into making so Crane could be approved to purchase the team. If Astros fans think the NL Central is tough (and it is despite what the national types believe), wait until next season when they have to play the likes of the Rangers and Angels. Hard to say the A’s will maintain. You never know how things will go with the GM they have.

Maybe the better way to look at it is the way it’s always looked at by Cubs fans…next year.

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Did you hear? After being released by the Cleveland Indians, Derek Lowe was picked up by the New York Yankees. The Pinstripes placed CC Sabathia on the disabled list, then signed Lowe for their bullpen. David Phelps will reportedly be moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation.

Wow. Not sure I go with Yanks GM Brian Cashman (or anyone else) on this one. Lowe owns the AL’s worst batting average against (.321) and WHIP (1.689). He also has the AL’s second worst ERA of 5.52. And he has walked more hitters (45) than he has struck out (41).

Those staggering numbers…and look at his new home park, the New Yankee Stadium.

Good luck with that, Derek. I know Dusty wishes you the best.

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The Reds now lead the NL Central by 4.5 games thanks in part to the San Diego Padres beating the Pittsburgh Pirates last night. Kind of funny that the Bucs were shutout by Jason Marquis. Now that I think about it, maybe not so funny.

In his career, Marquis now owns five shutouts. Each with a different team. He has posted a shutout with St. Louis, Chicago Cubs (insert your own one-liner here), Colorado, Washington (just last year) and after last night, San Diego.

What is funny is that in each season when Marquis has posted a shutout, he has never had an ERA under 4.00. This year, between Minnesota and San Diego, it is over 5.00.

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Here ya go…

What do you think, McKayla?

Thought so, but Mr. Wonka has something to say to you.

Paybacks.