A jinx more widespread than Madden's?

This week, reigning NL MVP Jimmy Rollins has missed time with an ankle injury. And World Series MVP Mike Lowell landed on the DL with a sprained thumb. I had mentioned that these two players who won an MVP award last year were injured, but I forgot that Josh Beckett, who started the season on the DL, had won the ALCS MVP.

That means counting regular season, playoff and All-Star Game MVPs, half of last year's "MVPs" have been injured through the season's first two weeks. Don't be surprised if Matt Holliday (NLCS), Ichiro Suzuki (All-Star Game) and Alex Rodriguez (AL) miss time this year.

We're indifferent to Ichiro, but Christine won't mind if Holliday goes down {non-plate-touching cheater}, and I certainly won't mind if Slappy does.

Speaking of Slappy, the Yankees won round one tonight. Pathetic performance by the offense. I must acknowledge that Chien-Ming Wang just dominated tonight. (I've always thought he's good but overrated.) Through a crackly radio broadcast in the basement, I heard the announcer say that he threw 78 pitches through the 8th, and if it weren't for a J.D. Drew home run that could have easily been caught by Bobby Abreu, there would be a no-hit attempt. J.D. Drew = the Red Sox offense, tonight and through the first 11 games. Scary.

And a good first start against the Empire for Clay Buchholz; he's starting to live up to his billing.

On a happier note:

Phils win. Good performances by Pat Burrell - a two-run home run and an RBI double - and Brett Myers, who settled down after giving up two solo homers in the first.

I'm going to miss Burrell next year. Yeah, he seems like a crank and hates the media, but I don't doubt his desire to win or commitment to the team. Whenever you see a shot into the dugout, he's right there on the top step watching the game or talking with Charlie Manuel or one of the coaches. I know he gets hammered because it seems like he doesn't get upset enough when he's playing poorly, but he gets a bum deal because he hasn't lived up to all of his contract expectations.

Plus, I'll miss seeing his bulldog Elvis in a Phillies jersey.

[Photo credit: Boston Globe]