The Seeds of Discontent Take Root in Baseball

Kicking the tobacco-chewing habit was easier for many baseball players because of sunflower seeds. Major leaguers consume about 300,000 bags a season.

Now comes word of a 30% reduction in this year’s crop because of an outbreak of sunflower-attacking mold, and players are concerned.

“I’m definitely going to stock up, maybe stash a few bags in my underwear drawer,” Pirate pitcher Salomon Torres told ESPN the Magazine.

Added the Dodgers’ Jose Valentin, “A dugout without sunflower seeds is like a liquor store without alcohol. Then again, peanuts are pretty good too.”

And they make you just as thirsty.

Trivia time: On this date in 1979, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Chicago Cubs, 23-22, in a game that featured 11 home runs and 50 hits. Who were the teams’ home run leaders?

Not of this world: When Tiger Woods missed the cut for the first time in seven years Friday at the Byron Nelson Championship, few golfers sympathized but many could relate. Said John Cook, Woods’ friend and neighbor: “Welcome to my world.”

Knicked pride: Some in New York have had it with Phil Jackson’s indecision on his coaching career. Wrote Marc Berman of the New York Post:

“If Jackson’s heart was into coming back to the Knicks, a franchise with which he won two titles as a player, it would have been done by now. Jackson’s flirtation with the Knicks should just end, officially. It is an honor and privilege to coach the Knicks and they should not have to play second, third or fifth fiddle, not for $10 million per.”

Thirteenth a charm? Gamblers may have already noted that Milwaukee, going into last Friday’s game against Pittsburgh, led the majors in winning percentage on Friday the 13th, at .667. True to form, the Brewers defeated the Pirates, 4-3.

The Seattle Mariners, according to stat guru Bill Arnold, had the worst percentage (.292) but were 14-7 winners against the Boston Red Sox, who, surprisingly, had held a .634 winning percentage on the unluckiest of days.

Sound advice: Thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert, speaking during the Los Angeles Times’ Jim Murray Sports Journalism Workshop at Hollywood Park, said his wife coached him on how to deal with the media.

“She told me to try to keep interviews short, because the longer you talk the better chance you have of saying something stupid,” Baffert said.

Blasphemy? David Aldridge of the Philadelphia Inquirer calls Dwyane Wade the best player in the NBA postseason, and adds, “If it’s heretical to suggest that Wade may be just as good as [LeBron] James, just as prolific as Carmelo Anthony -- that the Miami Heat guard might be a better pro than those two bigger names -- we all may need to spend more time in church.”

Trivia answer: Dave Kingman of the Cubs hit three homers and Mike Schmidt of the Phillies hit two.

And finally: Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel on Tampa Bay Buccaneer owner Malcolm Glazer’s purchasing a controlling interest in English soccer club, Manchester United: “Coming soon: Prince Chucky.”