Vinny called it: In the top of the 9th during Sunday's game, Vin Scully observed the pitch-by-pitch rise in Giants manager Felipe Alou's unhappiness with pinch hitter Jose Vizcaino. The score was 0-0 and the Giants had a guy on, so Vizcaino was supposed to bunt. When he took a good pitch, Scully caught that Alou was not happy. Same when Vizcaino fouled one off. We could all see Alou's disgust when Vizcaino finally bunted so poorly that pitcher Brett Tomko got the lead runner at second base. Vizcaino was cut the next day. Wouldn't surprise me if the Dominican ex-Dodger's pretty nifty career (for a .270 hitter with no sock) is over after 18 seasons and 1,804 games. Jose has played for seven teams, including L.A. twice, and had 104 post-season at-bats. Twice he was traded with Jeff Kent, to the Indians and the Giants. [Ahem: Emailer Jeff got me thinking back to Sunday night, and it wasn't Scully at all. It was Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on ESPN.}
Satisfied customer: Blogger John Stodder, who comments as dzzrtRatt at Dodger Thoughts, posted that Sunday's 1-0 win at Dodger Stadium "was the greatest baseball game I have attended in person in my life."
Piazza happy in San Diego: Now he tells Sports Illustrated he plans to play next season, and is leading National League catchers in home runs. SI also gives some love to Chase Utley.
Last man in: Matt Leinart collects on a deal with the Arizona Cardinals that ESPN says could pay him $50.8 million. He's expected in camp today. Leinart's agents at CAA, Tom Condon and Ken Kremer, negotiated the contract.
