But first an answer: Several readers of Blog and followers of Team, in between recent bouts of defecting to Washington Nationals, have asked Blog why Blog hasn’t been posting all that much lately.

Well for starters, up until little winning streak (ongoing) Team has been atrocious with Capital O. Terrible. Unwatchable. Also amid stretch of hideousness, World Cup has been going apace, making spending precious hours watching Bumbling Carbunkles at Camden Tards that much more impossible.

Also, June shapeed up super busy. But things may be calming down now for half a minute.

It’s been nice to see Team finding a little bit of shape lately, especially in bullpen. (Did anybody see Flat Breezy’s latest in Dodgertown last night?) With so much young talent, one or two serious, non-garbage pile signings could see Team become competitive quickly.

Anyway, on to Blog’s question. Recently Blog saw following Baltimore fan post:

There is a downside to all this winning.  [Presumed reference to modest current streak]  Pittsburgh has lost 6 in a row. So our 6 game lead, for the #1 draft pick, has been cut to 2.

Are there really people who think like this? Or is this just something fans say to sound “sophisticated”? Are there really people who think it would be better for Team to tank its way to No. 1 pick as opposed to showing a little life (and sending message to league that there is a heartbeat still in Balto.)?

Strange.

How Capt. Nicky decided to rip Teammates — in a long overdue lambasting — a day after reconnecting with Aubrey Huff on the West Coast.

Can’t you see Aubrey taking Nick aside and saying, ‘Dude, you got to say something’?

Sox-ual Healing: BTW, Stephen Strasburg has better ERA
Blog of Team: Suck it
They’re both in the 2s
Sox-ual Healing: Wanna make bets on who has the better career ERA? I’ll give you decent odds
Blog of Team: [Blog wants] odds plus an AL East / NL East ERA differential
Sox-ual Healing: Whats the differential
Blog of Team: .5
Sox-ual Healing: So if Strasburg has career ERA of 2.8, and Jake Arrieta has 3.29, you’re saying Arrieta would win?
Blog of Team: y
  AND Blog lays $20, you lay $30
Sox-ual Healing: I think Arietta will have a career ERA of about 4.31, so I don’t think it’s a problem, but I’d give those odds
Blog of Team: Are we doing career or 2010 season?
  [Blog] may be dead by the time either retires
Sox-ual Healing: I guess we can do 2010
Blog of Team: You just gave [Blog] a reason to care about baseball again
Sox-ual Healing: Yay
  See? There’s always hope

There was tiniest glimmer of hope for despondent diaspora yesterday as Sun Paper reported Bobby Valentine is interested in “challenge” of managing Team.

Hopefully there’s something to it. Because another night like Tuesday will be hard to take. And another night like Tuesday is all Team has to give. (No this is not Bruce Springsteen song.)

Making matters more painful last night was how Team’s hideous inability to compete with Yankees was thrown into stark relief last night by this guy…

Image via MASN

Nats game was electric. New pitcher was fierce. They even got the W. And the Ws on their home whites looked especially fancy somehow last night.

Friends of Team: Our road is rocky. Our hearts are low. Our bats are inept. And … well hiring Top Step Bobby would be step in right direction. Trust Blog. He’s got Fire in Belly.

Alright smartasses … you all got Trembo fard! Way to go!

Image via MASN

Ooops not such a good first inning for new skipper.

Go Os!