Wow, That Was Unexpected

Looks like we'll be remembering Paul Byrd for something else as well.

Do I have my finger on the pulse of this game or what?

Rubén Amaro, Jr. Is Watching You

Major League Baseball recently revealed that since 2005, all 30 teams have been using a "chaperone" system to monitor players notified that they are taking a drug test as a way to prevent any Onterrio Smith-style urine tampering.

"Players may not be aware they're under observation, but we're watching," baseball executive vice president Rob Manfred was quoted as saying. "It doesn't mean we tell them we're watching."

Three general managers are monitors, 18 assistant GMs, four vice presidents, four directors of baseball operations. The title of the other monitor wasn't disclosed.

Actually, the article is wrong. The last monitor is Heywood Jablome, Executive Assistant to the General Manager of the San Francisco Giants.

Now if MLB could implement that designated-driver program, everything would be just peachy.

Major League Teams Secretly Monitoring Drug Tests [ESPN.com]