Giambi talks the talk, and evidently will walk

That friends, is Jason Giambi.

Giambi is possibly the only player (other than Barry) that could be convicted of steroid use simple on physical appearance.

At one point, he really looked like the guy you would visit in the alley (or wherever it is you buy steroids) to pick up your supply.

Well, Giambi had an “open” and “honest” conversation with Senator George Mitchell, who has no laws to pass, only baseball players to catch.

During the convo over IM, Giambi acknowledge a “person history with steroids.”

And now, because of the discussion and his charitable work, commissioner Bud Selig has announced he will not punish Giambi.

Basically, Giambi has admitted he made a mistake (without admitting anything) and is going to give some money to anti-drug campaigns, etc., etc.

This just adds to the thought that Bonds is being persecuted because he is a giant dickhead. Maybe if he would have gone to Selig early on, given candid testimony and made a few contributions to D.A.R.E., people might respect his record a little more.

Giambi is kind of a Canseco character though. What he’s doing is good we suppose, but is he really a saint? He may have been promised he wouldn’t be punished by Selig before he testified.

At least it’s a step in the right direction.

The Fynal Out: And he shall be Livan

Sorry for the slow start boys and girls, we’ll try and make up for it.

Not many people think the Arizona Diamondbacks are going to be able to hang onto their lead in the N.L. West.

We are not one of those people, although we admit Tuesday’s 14-5 pounding at the hands of the Marlins had us a little worried.

But the D-Backs bounced back, and Livan Hernandez got some of his swagger back.

When he gave up 3 runs in the first inning Thursday (and for most of this season), he hasn’t looked anything like the Giants pitcher who won 17 games in 2000.

But Livan had a quick fix for the awful start:

“I threw up in the bathroom, had the trainer give me something to drink and after the first inning, I felt much better,” Hernandez said.

Little more than we needed to know.

Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 4: Chris Young got things going for Arizona with a lead-off home run in the 1st inning. Hernandez’s 7 innings of work were enough to get the win, and keep the D-Backs lead at 3 games.

Reds 4, Cubs 12: Besides the offensive explosion, the biggest news out of the North Side was the resigning of Carlos Zambrano (to the tune of 5 years for $90 million). The Cubbies open today’s series against the Cardinals a half-game out of first.

Cardinals 8, Brewers 0: It’s official, the Brewers are tanking. And the Cardinals, the Cardinals may cause some problems for fans in Milwaukee and Chicago. Adam Wainwright set a career-high in strikeouts (8), while Yadier Molina had the first multi-home run game of his career.

Tigers 8, Yankees 5: The see-saw that is the A.L. Central continued to sway, as the Tigers went into Yankee Stadium and cemented Mike Mussina’s postseason roster spot (the bench). Carlos Guillen’s grand slam in the first capped a 6-run onslaught in the first two innings. Justin Verlander got the win in his first career start in the Bronx.

More scores…