Boy, when it comes to politics Senator Jim Bunning must be to the right of Atillia The Hun.  How else can you justify his attack on Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg ?

Bunning, a great pitcher back in the day for the Phillies and Tigers, ripped the boy wonder a new one over his failure to launch Tuesday night.  Growled Bunning "520 starts and I never missed one!" Bunning went on to poke fun at the arm tightness Strasburg experienced prior to the game. 

What Bunning may not know is that the decision to sit Strasburg was not Strasburg's, it was Washington General Manager Mike Rizzo's.  When you have an investment (which is what players are these days) like Strasburg, you take no chances, especially this early in his career.  Pitch counts are the norm in baseball now, a fact fans hate but teams abide by.

Back in Bunning's day, pitchers would routinely throw anywhere between 140-170 pitches an outing on three days rest.  But there are many differences since the Senator toed the rubber in the 1960's.

One is that pitchers work out more than they did in his day, so their arms and shoulders are more tense and rigid than they used to be.

Second, there is a bullpen system which includes set up men and closers.  Starters aren't expected to go more than seven innings and anything after that is a bonus. 

Third, pitches like the split fingered fast ball have put so much stress on pitcher's elbows, you can almost expect a pitcher who throws one to have Tommy John surgery at least once in his career.  Back in Bunning's day, you threw a fastball and change and maybe a curveball.  But there were none of these split finger, or two, three or four seam fastballs or other pitches which easily blow your arm up.

Finally, in Bunning's day, pitchers were a dime a dozen.  The mound was higher and even pitchers of lesser talent were successful during the pitcher dominated 60's.  Pitchers were paid little and if they ruined their arm, someone would replace them and that would be the end of that.  Enter Marvin Miller, Scott Boras et. al. and multi-million dollar contracts and you understand why teams take few chances. 

This is probably why the White Sox are sick over Jake Peavy's injury.  Paying a guy $12-14 million to rehab is not the way to spend your money. It seems that Peavy would have been better off being more like Strasburg and less like Bunning.

While I agree with Bunning that athletes are coddled these days, I accept the fact that the big money contracts have caused the game to change.  It's time Bunning did too.

Lightning Round

• I think Jim Leyland was done a disservice by MLB in getting a fine and a suspension for accidentally spraying umpire Marty Foster with sunflower seeds the other night in Tampa.  If they truly consider going out and standing up for your team after a horrible call is "inappropriate and aggressive conduct", then they should get umpires who can actually get the calls right, initiate a replay system or fine and suspend Foster for having eyesight like Stevie Wonder.
• In refusing a trade to the Angels, a contending team, Derek Lee raises the question "does he truly care about the Cubs?"  Lee could have helped his team gain much need prospects while he played for a playoff bonus.  Instead, he invoked his 10 and 5 rights to stay where he is.  That's not being loyal, kids, it's being selfish.