USA 16, Arizona 0 — it was that close?

Arizona pitcher Lindsay Sisk allowed 10 runs in 1 1/3 innings last night. It’s not often you hear a pitcher say this after that kind of performance:

“It was actually really fun.”

For a team hoping to win the gold medal at the Olympics this year, it’s probably a good thing the U.S. softball team was able to completely annihilate Arizona, winning 16-0. Taryne Mowatt (pictured above), Arizona’s main pitcher, did much better, allowing only 6 runs in 5 2/3 innings — actually kind of impressive of what has to be the best lineup in the world.

I blogged about this yesterday, but that game was team USA’s first in part of a long tour around the country to prepare for the Olympics, facing off against college and pro teams (mostly college teams).

Arizona is the No. 1 ranked team in the country and two-time defending NCAA champions. If they lose 16-0 to the U.S., imagine how some of the other college teams will do.

40 days ’til Opening Day: Should Vlad Guerrero DH?

There are 40 days left until that best day of the year, MLB Opening Day.

Vladimir Guerrero, who normally speaks no English at all, said three words without a translator yesterday:

“No, no DH”

I understand why Vlad doesn’t want to DH. Playing defense is fun, and of course, he probably thinks he’s good at it.

While I don’t want want Vladdy to become a full-time DH, it would probably help the team if he was the DH a good portion of the games, at least in the one-fourth to one-third range. The Angels have four outfielders right now who should be in the lineup as much possible: Vlad, Torii Hunter, Gary Matthews Jr. and Garret Anderson (and that doesn’t even include Juan Rivera or Reggie Willits on the bench, who really do need to learn another position). Of those, GA should DH the most, but it would be great for Vlad, who’s had occasional injury problems in recent years, to DH part time.

If any hitter on the team should get what he wants, it’s Vlad, who had a 40% on-base percentage and .950 OPS last season en route to 27 homers and 125 RBI.

Let’s hope Vlad accepts a part-time DH role. Of course, if any of the four outfielders gets hurt, this becomes less of an issue. Hell, Guerrero did say his elbow is “still a little sore” from last season. If anyone close to Vlad can convince him to DH part-time, please do. He might need it more than he’s letting on.