Baseball around the horn

Homeland Security?

The San Francisco Giants took a White House tour while in Washington this week. While the players were waiting to have their IDs checked, centerfielder Aaron Rowand was yanked out of line and told to step into the guardhouse.

"If a Secret Service agent pulls you aside, that's not good," he told the San Francisco Chronicle.

As it turns out, the agent was from Philadelphia and a big Rowand fan from his time with the Phillies. He got an autograph, Rowand got a Secret Service pin and the rest of the visit proceeded as scheduled.

Ichiro and his dog

Here's what Mariners hitting machine Ichiro had to say, through a translator, after breaking his own club record by extending his hitting streak to 26 games:

"Once I got this far, I wanted to achieve it. Now I wish that I would have asked my wife, Yumiko, and my dog, Ikkyu, to come to the game. But, at the same time, if you think about it, if I didn't invite them, it means that much to me as well."

—Philadelphia Daily News

Fantasy tips

With Troy Percival out in Tampa, the Rays plan to use the fantasy-dreaded closer by committee plan. Joe Nelson (1-0, 2 saves, 5.21 ERA, 1.84 WHIP) might be the best bet among a shaky group.

A pitcher flying under the radar that might be worth a look is the A's Josh Outman — and not because he has a great name for a pitcher. Outman is 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA in his last five starts.

Mets' wonder boy OF Fernando Martinez got the callup Tuesday after hitting .291 with eight homers and 29 RBIs at Class AAA Buffalo. Beware of the hype and the strikeouts (31 in 165 at-bats).

—New York Times

Top to bottom

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Record: 38-19 Last Week: 1

Career year for Pierre

2. Boston Red Sox

Record: 32-23 Last Week: 2

Beckett 1.94 ERA last 6 starts