We’re now ~70 games into the season, and everybody realizes that the Natinals are a terrible team. Letting them change the rules to put them on an even playing field doesn’t seem like a good workaround though. As Hall of Famer Willie Keeler once said the point of baseball is to “hit ‘em where they a’int.” The Natinals (with the exception of their bullpen) clearly not getting the concept, still hits balls at the opposing defense. However, they’re now sending splintered bats at the defensive players as well. True, it worked once turning an inning-ending double-play ball into a single because NICK GREEEEN had to do a little dance so as not to get impaled, but somebody should tell the Nats that following in Roger Clemens’ footsteps is not going to get them a better pitching staff. (Remember the 2000 World Series? Mike Piazza can remind you.)

Lucky for the Sox, the Natinals pitching staff isn’t taking steroids and throwing 95mph fastballs, so we got to watch Big Papi’s first home run away from Fenway this season. Of course, so did he. Clever of Papi to make his 1000th (and 1001st, and 1002nd) RBIs of his career from a booming home run to dead center so that he could take his time to enjoy it. And Tek’s homer was no slouch either, traveling a mere 436 feet to right center. If it was at the New Toilet the ball probably would have cleared the top deck.

Tomorrow is the first start for John Smoltz in a Red Sox uniform. Win or lose though, the Sox now have the best record against the Natinals of the top three teams in the AL East. Thanks Nats!