Cup of hot soup and half a hot-wire sandwich

Let’s look at what’s been happenin’!

-Last week Grant Desme, a top prospect in the Athletics’ farm system, announced that he would leave his baseball career behind to join the priesthood. The story was popping up all over the internet, so apparently I wasn’t the only one who found it intriguing. Although it provided some potent fodder for joke-making (via Twitter: RyanMcGeeESPN God have mercy on the church softball league that ends up with @MLBazFallLeague MVP Grant Desme. #priestswhocanrake) you have to respect the man’s decision. Not many people would abandon a possible life of fame and fortune, for any reason. Not to mention that every little boy’s dream is to grow up to be a major leaguer. Mr. Desme, only 23 years old, could have used the priest thing as a fallback plan in case baseball didn’t work out. Instead, he has chosen to walk away from the game just when he was starting to show the most promise (he cleaned up in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, garnering MVP honors.) What more can you say? Bless you, Mr. Desme. Bless you.

-So, who have the Cubs been looking at lately? I hardly even know. Somewhere between Jeff Gray and Marlon Byrd I lost my off-season belly fire. RHP Kiko Calero? OK… well, the thought of shouting “Let’s go, Kiko!” does appeal to me. Ben Sheets? That’d be swell, but if his asking price is as high as it’s rumored to be, Mr. Sheets could use a good slap in the face. The names of Jermaine Dye, Xavier Nady, Rocco Baldelli, and Jonny Gomes have been circulating. Of those, I would like Mr. Nady, please. Has anyone else ever noticed that he has the funnest name to write in the world? I wish my name were Xavier Nady.

-This was barely a blip on the radar, but outfielder Jody Gerut signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. I was horrified. I am certain that Mr. Gerut is the most underrated “Cub killer” in baseball today. He may not be Carlos Lee, but that guy is always doing something to hurt us.

–Yay, Mesa!