JAYS WIN GAME, LOSE LEFTY

Have you been watching those Hockey Night in Canada classics from the '80s? Doesn't the ice and boards look naked without advertising painted everywhere?

• Guess it's good news for Syracuse Skychiefs fans: You might be seeing Gustavo Chacin again real soon. The Jays lefty reaggravated the strained elbow and forearm last night and is back on the DL. That reduces the 10-5 come-from-behind win over the Tigers to a sidebar, enjoyable as it was to see. Todd Jones was the Arson Man tonight for Detroit, coming in with a 5-3 lead and giving up four straight hits to put Detroit down 8-5. His ERA went from 5.57 to 7.29. Maybe it's karma for his homophobic remarks a couple years ago. He was in the country where gay marriage is legal, after all.
  
  As for Chacin, can you think of a pitcher who's 6-2 and could possibly be enjoying his season any less?
• Two pre-season tilts in the CFL and Ricky Williams' longest run from scrimmage was eight yards. Is it Ricky or is it the blocking? Or are the Hamilton Tiger-Cats just getting their licks in against the Argos now, before the games count in the standings?
• Jim Leyritz has admitted using amphetamines while with the Yankees. Not sure why this rates media attention since amphetamines are already banned and it was widely known they were around the majors since the '60s. What's noteworthy here is that the wire-service story notes a discrepancy between Leyritz's recollection and the box score at Retrosheet. After last weekend's Tommy Lasorda debacle, they're proceeding more carefully.
• The NBA's David Stern said there is something totally wrong with how the NBA develops basketball players. First off, this is about money -- the NBA knows there's a perception out there that it's a league where you get paid before you prove that you can perform, and that it doesn't want to lose its audience at home by having to rely to much on foreign players. But it's good to see a commissioner realize it's part of his duty to do something about how players get to the top league. It's not about the fact one guy never get an education but make millions in the NBA; it's that for that one guy, there's 500 who aren't good enough by the NBA and get used up by college programs without acquiring any real-life skills. So well done, Mr. Stern.
• Gimp of the week goes to U.S. Congressman John Hostettler, who called Canada a breeding ground for terrorists. Here's how informed this goof is: he said "South Toronto" is "the type of enclave that allows for this radical type of discussion to go on." Buddy, there is no South Toronto: Just an awfully big lake. Who knows? Maybe he was referring to Yorkville. Lots of radicalism there.
• CBS is refusing to let Mount Airy, N.C., the setting for Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show, build a statue in tribute to Don Knotts. No word on whether Santa Monica, California tries to build a Mr. Furley statue.
• Hometown Breakdown note: Ron Heidebrecht, long-time teacher and coach at my alma mater, Ernestown Secondary School (he went to school with my parents!), received a provincial Leader in School Sport Award during the OFSAA tournament in Kingston this week. Must be nice to receive that in the same week your home country opened the World Cup.
• Sweden vs. Trinidad and Tobago at noon. Out of Left Field is so there.
• Not sure how much tee-up there'll be on Oilers-'Canes Game 3, but there will be a live blog.